Essay Archive - The Life of Ludwig Van Beethoven
The Life of Ludwig Van Beethoven
The rise of Ludwig van Beethoven into the ranks of history's greatest
composers was paralleled by and in some ways a consequence of his own
personal tragedy and despair. Beginning in the late 1790's, the increasing
buzzing and humming in his ears sent Beethoven into a panic, searching for
a cure from doctor to doctor. By October 1802 he had written the
Heiligenstadt Testament confessing the certainty of his growing deafness,
his consequent despair, and suicidal considerations. Yet, despite the
personal tragedy c....
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