Ludwig van Beethoven
Classical music is often described as metaphorically coming from the heart. But with Beethoven, that literally may have been the case.
According to a researchers from the University of Michigan and University of Washington–including a cardiologist, medical historian, and musicologist–the legendary composer may have been inspired by his own heartbeat when creating some of his greatest masterpieces.
Published in a recent edition of the journal Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, their research analyzed several of Beethoven’s compositions for clues for a heart condition that many have speculated he might have had, and found that some of the rhythms for certain parts of his compositions may indeed reflect the irregular rhythms of a cardiac arrhythmia.
“His music may have been both figuratively and physically heartfelt,” co-author Joel Howell, a professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School, said in a statement.
I hate to burst anyone’s bubble, but Beethoven would probably have composed just as beautifully at that time even if he had his hearing. Composers use their hearts despite deafness or without. And a real big deal has always been made that Beethoven composed and was able to without hearing. Yes, it did disappoint him that his deafness was imposing on his passion for music.He was a performer and a composer. But composers have the music in their hearts and brains and soul. It transcends everything. Mozart and Bach could have probably done the same thing. Please…don’t think I that I believe it’s a moot point. On the contrary. People just don’t always understand how multidimentional music really is. It transcends everything and quite probably plays a major role in holding the universe(s) together. It goes way beyond our human bodily senses.