Beethoven: A Typology of Genius Essay Example

was underdeveloped, but his deafness accentuated his essential qualities. This, combined with the peripheral set, led to the emergence of a musical genius.

After careful consideration, you have arrived at a thesis: the peripheral set provided the foundation for Beethoven's achievements. This set includes various elements, starting with his family's musical background. Beethoven's grandfather, Ludwig van Beethoven, held a position as a bass singer at the Elector of Cologne's court, and eventually became the music director. Similarly, Johann van Beethoven, Ludwig's father, worked as a tenor at the same institution and gave piano and violin lessons on the side to augment his earnings (Thorne P. 114, 1986).

According to Capell (1938), Beethoven's musical talent may have been inherited from his father, who was also a musician. Beethoven demonstrated early signs of musical ability and received rigorous training from his father through a specific set of exercises. By the age of nine, he had completed this training and was subsequently provided with a tutor by his father.

Beethoven's natural musical ability and early training set the stage for his future success as a composer. He sought to further expand his knowledge and engage with other contemporaries in Vienna, the cultural hub of Europe during his time. This location provided ample opportunities to learn from established composers living in or passing through the city. To begin his studies, Beethoven delved into Mozart's works, which inspired him to initially write in a style reminiscent of Mozart (Thayer P. 89, 1921).

According to Thayer P. 153, 1921, Joseph Haydn instructed Beethoven in counterpoint while Antonio Salieri offered guidance on Italian vocal composition style, as stated in Thayer P. 72, 1921. Being situated in

the city enabled Beethoven to encounter and gain knowledge from these musical luminaries.

As Beethoven developed from a student to an accomplished composer and pianist, his rebellious nature and self-assurance became more evident. During a walk with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, a renowned German poet, Beethoven declared the superiority of artists over nobility. Despite the Empress of Austria and dukes passing by with their followers, Beethoven remained undeterred on his path while Goethe yielded (Johnson, p. 18). Like other exceptional individuals who perceive themselves as superior to those without outstanding abilities, geniuses display open defiance towards authority. This is evident in the lives of cultural icons such as Leonardo da Vinci and Wagner.

According to Johnson, Beethoven had a particular disregard for royalty, as he believed their authority was only due to their fortunate birth (p. 118). Although he may not have considered that his own musical talent was also a result of chance at birth. The rebellious attitude exhibited by Beethoven was more so a characteristic of his genius than a driving force. As he became more proficient at composing, his defiance became a reflection of his confidence in himself.

It is a valid point that having at least some success is necessary, or else rebellion can be seen as nothing more than erratic behavior. When it comes to Beethoven, his rebellious spirit, relocation to the city, and musical family background already paint the picture of a genius. Unfortunately, fate intervened and he began to experience hearing loss at the young age of 26. Similar to how a painter relies on good eyesight to carefully observe and create a stunning masterpiece, a musician needs a keen sense

of hearing to accurately pick out notes even in the midst of surrounding noise. For accomplished musicians, auditory skills are typically honed through years of training, but for some individuals, this ability may be inherited.

Beethoven suffered greatly from the loss of his hearing. During the early stages of his progressive deafness, he grieved, saying "It was impossible for me to say to people, 'Speak louder, shout, for I am deaf.' Ah, how could I possibly admit an infirmity in the one sense which ought to be more perfect in me than others, a sense which I once possessed in the highest perfection, a perfection such as few in my profession enjoy or ever have enjoyed?" (Heiligenstadt Testament, quoted in Jander 2000, 25-26). Despite his deafness, Beethoven was determined to continue his path towards greatness. He relied on his mind's ability to play notes as he gradually lost his hearing. Prior to becoming deaf, Beethoven could use the piano to test out the pieces he composed. As his deafness progressed, this became more difficult. His rigorous musical training became even more important as his mind had to recall the sound of certain notes without any auditory prompt.

Recalling the sound of one note was not enough; a musical composition could consist of thousands of notes that needed to be played simultaneously. The mind also had to discern the sound of a note when played on different musical instruments or sung by different vocal types. Despite losing his hearing, Beethoven continued composing, demonstrating that his mind could perform these feats. It required a robust memory and formidable processing capabilities, which Beethoven possessed and honed even further as

he relied on them more frequently. This refinement created a new Beethoven. [good]

Due to his deafness, Beethoven was able to block out distractions and develop exceptional concentration. He had the ability to mentally reproduce entire symphonies and become fully absorbed in one activity, completely withdrawing from his surroundings. This was demonstrated when he went to a restaurant and, after knocking for the waiter without success, he began composing music in his notebook. Even when the waiter eventually arrived, Beethoven remained engrossed in his music and didn't notice the interruption.

The waiter expected the deaf master to shout out his order since he was a frequent visitor to the restaurant. However, Beethoven was so engrossed in his composition that the waiter gave up waiting and returned to the master, who then requested the bill. Beethoven's intense focus on his music was truly impressive (Breuning P. 46, 1992).

Beethoven's deep concentration allowed him to perfect the minutest of details and refine his compositions. This skill is reflected in the music he composed during his later years, despite being completely deaf. The Grosse Fuge, Op. 133, written just before his death, originally served as the final movement of Quartet No. 13 in Bb, showcasing his riveting concentration and newly refined ability to play notes in his mind.

The Grosse Fuge by Beethoven showcases his remarkable ability to transform his ideas into music, as seen in its deeply introspective nature (Kerman P. 276, 1966). The technical complexity of this fugue is so high that it seems like the composer's aim was not to create a piece that musicians could enjoy performing, but rather to allow enthusiasts to appreciate its

superb technical structure. The attention to detail is impeccable, a reflection of the composer's arduous efforts and intense concentration.

Despite facing the physical obstacle of deafness, Beethoven's later music remains highly influential and has even inspired later composers such as Richard Wagner. However, critics of the generation immediately following his death considered his music to be flawed. They isolated the introspective and technical nature of his final period works and attributed it solely to his deafness. These critics believed that Beethoven had failed to overcome his disability and that his compositions were too different from contemporary works. This perspective, presented by Strauss in his April 12th Lecture, caused them to view Beethoven's disability as a hindrance rather than a source of inspiration.

On 26-27, 2011, critics claimed that Beethoven's disability hindered his ability to compose. However, they overlooked the potential for infirmity to enhance talent. Beethoven's deafness not only refined his ability to mentally recreate musical sounds, but also improved his concentration. Although he lost his hearing, this disability was largely compensated for by the enhancement of other attributes crucial to outstanding musical composition.

[right, the brain is plastic] Although Beethoven had enhanced compositional abilities due to his deafness, it also caused him immense emotional pain. This was evident in his Heiligenstadt Testament of October 6th, 1802, where he expressed his frustrations and described the suffering he had endured. The tone of the testament was apprehensive as he resisted the temptation to end his life. This information was previously discussed on page 4, meaning it should have been either saved for this section or vice versa to prevent repetition. (Capell P.)

In 1938, an individual experienced great

distress and began exhibiting signs of paranoia and irritability, leading to difficulties in trusting those around him, including friends and colleagues. Interestingly, this trait is shared among other notable geniuses such as Leonardo, Newton, and Wagner. Wagner's intense paranoia even influenced his musical compositions, particularly regarding his suspicion of Jewish individuals (Millington P.).

In 1991, it was suggested that there is not a direct correlation between paranoia and musical sounds. The experience of mistrust can lead geniuses to be isolated, only keeping a small group of close friends and admirers. This was true for Beethoven, who struggled to maintain a clean living space and had few companions (Capell P. 388, 1938).

While peripheral and essential factors can affect the development of genius, being a loner does not contribute to creativity. Despite variations across fields, there are core characteristics that successful geniuses share, which can drive or enable their accomplishments. A curious and motivated mindset drives the search for novelty, while strong processing ability and divergent thinking enable exceptional creativity. Beethoven exhibited these qualities, but it was his deafness that was most influential in propelling him to the highest levels of musical composition.

Despite the difficulty he faced from losing his hearing, his disability gave way to improving his auditory perception and concentration. This enhancement allowed him to create timeless music. While the paper was already strong, removing illogical thoughts and reorganizing the discussion around the effects of hearing loss would make it even better.

You have successfully developed a specific thesis regarding B and genius in general, which you effectively present in your writing. The Works Cited references can be found at http://www.jstor.org/stable/727721 and http://www.jstor.org/stable/823618.