How Did Beethoven Hear Music?

In this episode I discuss Ludwig Van Beethoven's hearing loss and demonstrate how music may have sounded to his ears and in his mind towards the end of his life.
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[@davidjordan2336]

Beethoven's deafness just seems like a cruel joke. Music is clearly what he loved most in life, and he's one everyone's short list of the greatest ever composers. And yet he was denied the ability to enjoy it. So much about Beethoven seems tragic.

[@Car_Mo]

What happened to Stephen Hawking is [almost] on the same level. He was diagnosed with a motor neurone disease (ALS) in his 20's that gradually started to paralyse his body and confined him to a wheel chair most of his life. Hawking was a theoretical physicist and could still use his mind to contribute in his field but calling him lucky would still be a stretch, even compared to Beethoven. It's not really possible to compare their "greatness", but the resemblance of their respective destiny is striking. I've had tinnitus on both ears for the last 20'ish years (was a DJ in the 90's), but i consider myself very lucky to still be able to listen to music. It actually helps to listen to music, silence is much worse. When i start to feel sorry for myself for not being able to enjoy silence, i think of Beethoven and Hawking.

[@sperl42]

You remember the scene from Amadeus when Constanze showed Amadeus' work to Salieri? He read the score and was able to hear it inside his head. All composers of these times were able to do this.

[@orangeman3220]

@@sperl42 i can imagine musical geniuses like them basically breath music

[@brianwilliams4467]

I feel worse for Jason Becker. To be that talented at 19 and be diagnosed with ALS.

[@dovydas4483]

@@brianwilliams4467 Yeah, poor Jason :( ... He was a legend and would be even more succesful if not that ALS... He still makes music tho... If youre strong enough, it doesnt matter what life throws at you, you will still find a way to do what you love the most.

[@jturner874]

The fact that Symphony No. 9 possibly could’ve been intended to be in Db rather than D is mind blowing and we are not making a big enough deal of this

[@liquensrollant]

A lot of recordings exist of his symphonies (and other works) played at lower pitches, but not because of that - rather it was because there was no universal standard pitch at the time.

[@philipk4475]

Yeah, an incredible insight by Rick! Wonder when the first performance of a transposed 9th will be!

[@losthor1zon]

There is also the fact that tunings in general were a bit lower at the time (but not by an entire half step).

[@alejandrogonzalezgonzalez462]

Actually, the British Library owns one of Beethoven's tuning forks. It resonates at A = 455.4 HZ, over a half tone higher than modern concert pitch. Perfect pitch or absolute has nothing to do with how Beethoven or the musicians of his time wrote and played music.

[@losthor1zon]

@@alejandrogonzalezgonzalez462 - Wow, interesting! Thank you.

[@matthewdrews]

In my opinion, Beethoven's 9th Symphony is the greatest piece of music ever created in the history of music. Every note is perfect. Every dynamic is perfect. The entire arrangement is perfect. It's very unlikely humanity will ever achieve that level of perfection in art ever again.

[@OpOp-gz5wl]

watch me

[@jan861]

Then listen to Günther "Sex Myself" !

[@Nickwritespoetry]

As a guy in his 20's with severe hearing impairment who loves composing music, this is very inspiring (and tear-jerking).

[@lyingcat9022]

Hey, Nick Beethoven has a nice ring to it ;)

[@BumFluffer1999]

Chin up lad 👊🏾

[@marylouleeman591]

So poignant.

[@V_4_Versace]

Do you have perfect pitch?

[@Defmusicman1]

Welcome to the club. I’m a deaf bassist and I’ve been playing for a long time. Keep playing and believe in yourself.

[@danielkeo316]

wait until beethoven hears about this

[@someperson9052]

I hope this becomes one of the most liked comments here

[@4himsanctified]

buahaha

[@charliewallace54]

Goddammit 😂😂😂

[@weezerfan_7]

@@someperson9052 they will

[@61hink]

Don't worry, he's not a blocker.

[@alexyari6036]

That letter is heartbreaking. I knew about his deafness, but I did not know about his feelings.

[@Alpha-Andromeda]

You thought perhaps he didn’t mind too much losing his most precious sense?

[@karningham2849]

Alpha Andromeda lmaooo gold comment

[@ffggddss]

I hadn't heard of that letter, either. But I'm not surprised. I think his feelings showed through in some of his later works. Listen to the 2nd mvt. of Symphony no. 7, and I think you'll see/hear what I mean. Fred

[@gwoptalk1268]

I got tears in my eyes when he was reading that letter

[@leslie8173]

Me too

[@garthzares]

Worth noting that much of Beethoven's music, even when he was deaf, was bubbling over with optimism and joy. How appropriate that the last movement of his last symphony is known as 'Ode To Joy' and is a musical representation his vision of universal brotherhood.

[@angelesskies]

As someone who’s 14 with tinnitus and possible hearing loss, I’m completely devastated, especially because I want to write music. I haven’t learned any of the instruments I want to either, which scares me because I want to remember how they sound so that I can imagine them more. I haven’t spayed these instruments to much , but I can imagine entirely made up songs in my head when it’s quite, even with tinnitus, so I hope before I completely go deaf, if I am, I can expand my ability to hear more music in my head by learning to play the instruments with my hearing right now.

[@TauvicRitter]

I just can sing a bit and enjoy it. I think enjoying music by yourself or making making for friends and family gives so much satisfaction. Trying to be the best or famous can ruin your pleasure. Try to enjoy music the most in the first place. If you have great talent it will come too you. Music is for the heart. That's why the best musicians give their private concerts in the shower for a small public.

[@johnharvey4448]

I was just telling a musician today that I can't imagine music in my head unlike some / other songwriters. I hear of people having the sound they want in their head. I can make songs but I can't do that. It seems you are one of the people who can.

[@nadogrl]

Have you checked out any of the natural treatments for tinnitus? The internet has numerous suggestions. Good luck!

[@kenz2756]

@@johnharvey4448 I believe you meant that you can't make up songs in your mind. Though imagining a known existing music in your mind is not difficult.

[@kenz2756]

@@thai-pc4jy Do you want to become famous/get rich out of music? Or do you just want to make music to get some enjoyment out of it? Now I'm not trying to be rude, but saying you don't have the skills is a lousy reason, noone has the skills before they learn. Also, what do you mean by not having the right tools? If you don't have an instrument then you must get one, that's the first step of learning an instrument. You're only 14 which is actually a pretty common age for someone to start learning an instrument, though not classical training perhaps.

[@Lights_Darks]

When a musician complained about the difficulty in playing his music, Beethoven retorted, “I’m writing music for God and you’re complaining about a bunch of notes?!“ He took his music very seriously.

[@wllmdavy]

I want this quote on my wall ahahaha

[@ffggddss]

I've heard tell that he was very hard on his students. It seems eminently plausible. Fred

[@rahulradhakrishnan5591]

That is not an actual quote. Beethoven didn't write music specifically for god, it was about mankind and expressions.

[@urphakeandgey6308]

@Rahul Radhakrishnan In expressive uses, especially in those times, the idea of "God" was more intertwined with nature, mankind, the world, and expression.

[@Amioran]

@@rahulradhakrishnan5591 He did, and you don't know very much about Beethoven if you think so. Research his own notes on the matter, he was a fervent theist, albeit in a more "personal" way. He wasn't very fond of the orthodox Catholicism of the time and he very seldomly participated in the Church life for this, but he clearly believed in an intelligent and personal power as a benign Creator, and his most intense quest was, in fact, in being able to write the most solemn hymn to God possible and to this end he took countless notes about monastic church chorals and strophes in the most correct translations he could come in contact with, and he was constantly in search for the perfect prosody in psalms and hymns.

[@paulmccurdie6253]

I couldn’t hear the tinnitus demonstration over my own tinnitus.

[@DavidBrown-lb6sd]

Same here. I heard "silence".

[@CorvoStivali]

Same here! Total silence. Freaked me out. At first I thought you, (Rick) were messing with us. I turned the volume way up and could hear 3 soft clicks. Then I tried again using my iPhone. I could hear it then. I can’t figure that out. I love and listen to music but don’t play any. I’ve always wanted a way to reproduce the high pitched undulating whine I hear all the time.

[@RealWallyGator]

Me too. I didn't hear anything until I turned the volume all the way up and held the phone close to my ear. Then it just sounded like what I hear most of the time.

[@paulmccurdie6253]

@@RealWallyGator I had to do the same thing.

[@bige778]

Same for me. Can`t hear above 2Khz at 70db, on bout ears.

[@purisomya6002]

As a pianist this is the worse thing that could happen to him... Not being able to listen to this beautiful instrument when your soul is connected to it, it's like air to breathe was snatched away... Yet he didn't give up, such an inspiration

[@WeaponsEducation]

You answered all my questions about Beethoven. Thank You Our minds are as strong as our soul.

[@Isaiah.278]

Don’t tell him I’m not deaf

[@THEBIGGAME683]

@@Isaiah.278 your gay, qho can conquer the world by sending tanks in my basement

[@liahide]

I rarely comment on youtube videos but this one, I had to. I am a musician, singer/songwriter, pianist, operatic trained singer, a singing teacher and piano teacher for the past 15 years, I've multiple degrees, studied music all my life, and preparing my PhD proposal as we speak. I am also arranging and producing my own music, and write music for theatre and dance. I also performed Beethoven's Opus 110 piano Sonata for my soloist graduation exams (he was utterly completely deaf when he composed this - it is such a miraculous work of art, brings you to tears, especially if you figure out that it only happened in his head.. and he never actually heard it, in reality). I had a major injury at some students' concert, while kneeling in front of a speaker, that just blew up in my face, when I lost most of my high frequencies, from my right ear. I have now also severe tinitus and extra hearing loss due to severe loss of B12 vitamin that is ruining my nervous system, and my doctors are trying to figure it out. We just now came to the conclusion that B12 is what actually caused more frequencies' loss, and extra and louder tinitus ( i hear what you displayed, plus white noise, all the time, unstoppably). It is sometimes very hard to tune myself and sing, when i play live, and my in ear monitors sometimes help, sometimes cause me such distress that i cry (luckily for me, my music is dark and sad, so nobody notices). All this, to say this. If music is what you are, you will keep doing it. It hurts like hell. Yes, you constantly think of Ludwig, if you start having hearing issues. Although to me, Ravel's end is the most scary one, if you are an artist. i don't know if he indeed had perfect pitch. To my experience, people who deal with music to such depth, tend to .. memorize pitches and they somehow seem to develop a sort of acquired perfect pitch. And ear training gets to be able to dictate music at such ease, yes it does. The most fascinating thing about Beethoven is, that in his writings it seems as if he got more philosophical and futuristic as he got deaf, and maybe that is because he freed himself of the .. earthly insecurities, since it all just happened in his head, and so did all the criticism. If you ever study the 109, 110 and 111 Sonatas, which to me are one huge Sonata all together, you will probably feel like this man is actually foreseing the future, while commenting on the past and present to such depth, it makes you feel small, and gigantic at the same time. I hope more people did videos like this, and explained to the rest of the world how incredibly tough it is to be a musician, and what it's like to struggle with all that. I know it's not the topic of the channel, but it would be so lovely if you could do a video on what it was like for Ravel to suffer the way he did, as a musician. thank you, you who may read this. sorry if I took too long, this video made me cry.. by the way, today, december 17th, is Beethoven's Baptism day, back in 1770 (it's kinda like his birthday)

[@tarp11z]

Lia, thank you for your true and great words. I'm going to pull out my Beethoven collection in your honor.

[@palacerevolution2000]

Lia, hard to find the right words to tell you how much I appreciate your post. My heart goes out to you. Music is the most powerful thing I know. I agree, that Beethoven's writing became much more introspective, and philosophical with age, temperance and ultimately deafness. Yet - just a personal opinion, I have always preferred #6, #7 and #8 as far as his symphonies go to the big 9th. And yes, a tragic tale of Ravel's final years.

[@PhilipeAntunesSonsCordas]

Lia and Rick, I have to say a big "thankyou" for you both. This video and this comment from Lia had Just raised the overall level of this place called KZbin.

[@downtownbillyandthenewjivefive]

Try propping up the leg you don't pedal with against the soundboard. You will feel the vibrations in your knee. I also just invented a new device. Really. Just now. Sometime in the future it may help you.

[@liahide]

@@tarp11z when you're done listening to all three sonatas, and you'd love to exchange ideas about it, i'd love to!

[@Guitargate]

More of this. If even just for me. Love the vibe and everything about this Rick. FASCINATING and impossible to imagine. And that last part .. hearing it a 1/2 step down.......

[@tyreeves3201]

Michael and Rick in one place. It’s like my subscription page is evolving 🤣

[@RickBeato]

Thanks Michael 🙏🏻

[@thatthingthatisaid65]

Blown away by this vid, absolutely compelling.

[@danielgrohl6971]

i spent 25 years as a union sheet metal worker and i wore hearing aids every minute! I had foreman tell me to take them out. They learned quickly that i could hear them just fine for with their hearing loss going on it was easy for they had to shout. If you are a musician and you work as a tradesman please take the hearing protection seriously they can save your ears for your senior years :)

[@stevestanley1114]

Yes, yes, yes this was in incredibly insightful Rick. Thank you so much.

[@wigs666]

His late string quartets were dismissed as people thought his hearing meant he couldn't write 'properly' any more. Only decades later were they acknowledged for the works of profound genius that they are.

[@xanthopsized]

I was awestruck by Beethoven ever since I was a child. I read everything I could get my hands on about him. I watched every documentary I could find about him and his music. This video here is a fresh perspective and is a great glimpse into the greatness that was Beethoven. It brought back the feelings of wonder and amazement I had 30+ years ago when I first found about him. I can’t thank you enough Rick.

[@4xfun448]

Adaa iigu horeya Somali Beethoven yaqaana. I thought I was the only one 🙌🏿

[@AleisterCrowleyMagus]

If you haven’t seen the film Immortal Beloved, staring the great English actor Gary Oldman, as Beethoven, see it. There are some errors and fictional details, etc, but the “Ode to Joy,” when Beethoven is standing there deaf (which you hear for a few seconds) as his last great masterpiece is played, is one of the most heartbreaking and lovely moments imagined in film.

[@tallykev6608]

Do a "what makes this song great" with some of Beethoven

[@Kaddywompous]

Some? Like maybe a fifth?

[@miguelpereira9859]

What makes this *piece great

[@zague173]

@@miguelpereira9859 that's what I was going to say haha

[@CostasAn]

It would be a 3 hour video.

[@mattjns]

Not sure he could get the isolated tracks. 😂

[@chriswilliams-tz4in]

This is why you have 2M subscribers Mr Beato.

[@classicalmusic1175]

As great as the 9th symphony is, I think his Missa solemnis (written around the same time as the 9th) is an even greater achievement. The fact he wrote the 9th, Missa solemnis, the late quartets and the last 4 piano sonatas whilst being almost totally deaf is indeed remarkable.

[@riverdelta7052]

Don't forget the Diabelli Variations

[@Alpysf]

The last 4 piano sonatas? Which ones were those?

[@riverdelta7052]

@@Alpysf Sonatas 29 to 32

[@TheHeroRobertELee]

Im not a super big fan of the real late sonatas. I prefer the mid to late ones. Appassionata, Pathetique, Moonlight, Tempest, etc. For some reason I just cant get into the Hammerklavier. That is a late one I think?

[@torrontescafayate6157]

@@TheHeroRobertELee , yes, that's No. 29. Personally, when I listen to 28-32, I feel like I'm hearing the thoughts of someone who has transcended all human experience. The man had a direct line to the Infinite. Give those amazing works time, hopefully some day you'll find yourself more in tune with their expressive world

[@dodgeball693]

It’s hard to imagine the world of music without Beethoven’s music as a part of it. And it’s hard not to get a strong sense of the divine when you listen some of his pieces. I think Beethoven knew all this deeply and that’s why he persisted in his efforts at creating this music even though he couldn’t enjoy it from a listeners point of view. Remarkable human being!

[@chris16durban]

Hope Ludwig's not a blocker

[@catsofsherman1316]

Pubic domain

[@vwgti1985]

WHAAAT I can’t hear nothing!

[@flavy1000]

JAJJAAJ GREAT COMMENT!

[@designtechdk]

His music may be public domain, but orchestral recordings are not.

[@bobbypepper5945]

I bet Ludwig has an office full of people scanning the internet for his recordings just like Don Henley.

[@KoriLinae]

I was born with my left ear being deaf. Last year, I was fitted with a Widex Hearing aid in my right ear, because I have significant hearing loss in my right ear as well. I've been writing music since I was a teen, and this is an amazing video - in fact it made me cry. Hearing loss is incredibly isolating and the hearing aid is giving me a little more time to hear music. Its not perfect, but it sure is amazing. I LOVE Beethoven because of his perseverence in spite of his hearing loss. Thanks for posting this!

[@priscilam.9808]

Im actually tearing up too because Im 39 years old now. I began losing high frequencies about 10 years ago. On my right hear, I cant hear anything above 4k now. I finally got hearing aids and they changed my life. Im a singer. Im grateful to have access to hearing aids now. This problem still makes me feel quite isolated as music is my life. But Im trying to cope. And it helps to know what Beethoven went thru before we had the technology we have now. I sure hope in the future we will find a way to cure hearing loss.

[@stephenprosser6787]

This hits home for me too. I lost hearing in the low frequency range when I was very young, and as I get older, I can tell that my overall hearing is starting to decline. I wonder everyday what music is ‘really’ supposed to sound like. Hearing loss has had a profound impact on my life, from the music I like, to how I interact with people. I love music and playing the guitar. I hope that one day a cure or hearing aid will be available that can help with my particular situation. But if not, I am still trying to enjoy what hearing I have left. Really enjoyed this video.

[@josephmartinez8803]

I can relate to hearing impairment. I don't why, but my family has hereditary hearing loss, from my Father. He never knew his Father, so there is no way to trace the path, beyond my Father. My Father was hard of hearing. Of the 5 children my parents had, 4 were born with hearing loss. Only one daughter has normal hearing, and my Mother. The hearing loss has been passed on to my siblings children and even their children. As a child, I had about 15% hearing loss in both ears. Now at the age of 57, I only retain about 20% hearing, in the low frequency range. It's a hidden disability, and it's tough just to have a conversation with someone, more especially with this mask mandate.

[@bikeguy247]

Welcome to the hearing impaired musically creative family

[@beachcomber4141]

Brian Wilson wrote his most amazing music only hearing out of one ear as well!! You are in great company.

[@garyvickery364]

Beethoven is one of the greatest musician ever. A mind like his is unimaginable, not to mention his virtuosity on the piano.

[@stuartcarden1371]

That kind of musical imagination is remarkable. Many of us can play by ear or play parts or songs in our heads but to have everything; every note and nuance is on a different level all together.

[@Doughillman]

"You don't have to listen to the entire [9th] symphony ..." Rick, I don't often disagree with anything you say, but ... here we are.

[@drkmriggs]

Totally agree. The second movement is insanely ahead of it’s time.

[@mjkmusic9758]

One should also go and listen to the entire 5th and 7th Symphonies and throw the entire 5th Piano concerto in there for good measure.

[@drkmriggs]

@@mjkmusic9758 Excellent choices. I'd add the "Eroica" 3rd Symphony as well.

[@jeffnewman8633]

@@mjkmusic9758 Yep the Emperor is certainly one of my favourites !

[@brianvanderspuy4514]

@@drkmriggs And the opening of the first movement - surely one of the most utterly awe-inspiring things ever composed.

[@TANYA-ss6ch]

I can't believe a man like him existed in this world. This brings tears to my eyes...

[@robweeks1974]

and mine

[@deepenwadhwa4027]

@@robweeks1974 and mine, every single time. Immortal beloved was such a great movie, I hope they make another soon covering his entire life.

[@tunaficiency]

Me too

[@jeffdoran2472]

And because he could not hear, someone from the orchestra came down to his podium to turn him around so he could at least see the standing ovation after the Ode concluded. Just unbelieveable.

[@Runicen]

It's only within the last year that I heard Beethoven's 9th in full and.. I was in awe. "Ode to Joy" has become something of a trope courtesy of its comedic use in movies and the like, but when you listen to the entire work and the build up to that point, once it breaks into that motif, it really washes over you. It feels like ecstatic release. It's an incredible piece of work. The circumstances of its creation make it even more miraculous.

[@hotruss7630]

I felt a sense of dread and almost could not breathe, when you explained that Beethoven wrote this music and never be able to hear them out loud, ever. To a musician like myself, that is the most horrifying thing to experience.

[@gerrycoogan6544]

Mozart probably didn't ever hear his last three great symphonies or many of his other late works. So sad.

[@musicantd]

@@gerrycoogan6544 And Mozart's last symphonies were his best. 40, 41. 38 is also pretty good.

[@jovetj]

But he heard them in his head, and I'll bet he was just fine with that.

[@HuskyTheDog2202]

Moved me to tears..

[@jackhaugh]

I work in a large operating room in VA. Yesterday I was fortunate enough to observe a procedure where a patient that had experienced deafness as an adult, and had a cochlear implant installed to restore their hearing. During the case the co-ordinator for the neuro/ent case showed me a second implant they had on standby in case the first one didn’t work. I told him jokingly that he should put it on EBay, and he replied the implant alone cost $28k. Another nurse in the room said that was really expensive for something so small, and he and I replied that it was a bargain at $28k because it replaced something that’s priceless.

[@lew0013]

True but it's still a fuck tonne of money for something people shouldn't have to pay for

[@jackhaugh]

@@lew0013 true, but it was covered by insurance. I personally believe 100% in socialized medicine, and think the rest of the world thinks we are chumps in the US because we don’t have it and every other westernized nation in the entire world does.

[@bwicklander]

A Cochlear Implant doesn't restore hearing , it takes months for the brain to learn the digital sounds to be understood as "speech". C.I. are progressing. People think it gives back hearing, which unfortunately is not true. Cool you got to observe that.

[@jonc8561]

Sounds like they are just taking advantage of people in dire-straights

[@CantankerousDave]

Terry Pratchett: "Deafness doesn’t prevent composers from hearing the music. It prevents them from hearing the distractions."

[@King_Richard01]

its so good because he literally was able to feel his music when he played it.

[@adityairawan1843]

"Sound does not lie." "Your sound is your soul itself." After knowing Beethoven's story and listening to his pieces, I think I can finally understand those words.

[@TribalGuitars]

I couldn't even hear the noise. This was one of my fave vids because of the way it was laid out and explained. My wife was watching with me and she was telling me to make sure I "liked" the video.

[@saddestchord7622]

I couldn't either. Too much volume when I was younger.

[@jbbeaudry]

That tunnitus noise was piercing. Very uncomfortable. I was with my headphones on, volume turned down. Ouch. Great video by the way

[@TribalGuitars]

@@saddestchord7622 At 17 to sometime in my 20's it was, "If it's too loud you're tool old." But lucky for me I wised up and started wearing hearing protection, but in my mid-50's now some of that shows up, But it could have been a lot worse.

[@mountfoolish]

I couldn't hear it either. Guess I must have it, too.

[@jbbeaudry]

@@lawrencetaylor4101 I don't know about frequencies, but to my ear it sounded like a very high F#

[@simonarodan]

I love the late quartets. The change in perfect pitch with age and what that means for what he left us is fascinating. Thanks Rick!

[@martyisokay]

My mom introduced me to classical music by giving me a tape of Beethoven's 9th when I was in my early teens. I don't know why she did but it was turning point in my life where I was immediately became obsessed with classical music because of all of the different sounds especially with that tape of Beethoven's 9th. It was powerful, captivating, and enlightening. I still have that tape. Beethoven's 9th changed my life.

[@josephfish6593]

I'm not crying I just have something in both my eyes.

[@CarolMarianaa]

As a speech-language pathologist and audiologist, this is one of the best yet simple practical explanations about hearing loss I've ever seen til now. And a great tribute to one of the most brilliant, overtalented songwriters of all. ❤ Cheers from Brazil

[@user-ux9ek3db3r]

With chills and filled with deep emotion, I stood in front and gazed at Beethoven's spectacles, original manuscripts and some of his locks of hair encased under glass at his home/museum in Bonn, Germany circa 2010. As a classically trained pianist, I was in awe of this great legend.

[@alfonsotenreiro9388]

Hello Rick. I'm a symphonic composer who grew up with Cinema Show and Supper's Ready. Your face expression as you're listening to this grandiose Symphony (9th) says it all. My heart crumbles each time I hear this beautiful fugato. The bassoon counter melody is the icing on the cake. Genius!!!! Thanks so much for all you do for the music community!!!

[@mjt11860]

my theory as to why beethoven's compositions opened up after completely losing his hearing, is that he wasn't distracted by what little of what he could still hear. he was a creative genius.

[@gw4434]

Nicely presented. Rick is a tremendous teacher and has so much knowledge yet he explains everything in an interesting vivid way. I hope I will be as knowledgeable as he is

[@tossedpenny]

Short answer: With his soul. The man was a genius.

[@joshuavdw7480]

Short answer: He bought the Beato book

[@davidmesser8619]

I am telling you that God blessed the man. God had compassion on him and gave him the ability to hear in his heart. When you write a song you receive them at the most inconvenient time. It's a heart thing. Vaughn

[@TheJipino]

@@davidmesser8619 nice Deus ex machina there

[@dangershgol3298]

I was exposed to classical music and going to the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra concerts from a very young age. My musical development was greatly shaped by this. Its only sad these days I am still one of the youngest people at classical music performances at 37. Its a dying art form. When I was younger performances were packed but now they are half full of people mostly in their 60s and 70s. Its unfortunate that the younger generation don't see the benefit of being exposed to the classics. It has influenced me in different styles of music I play.

[@joshuavdw7480]

@Undercoverbus it’s a comment on a youtube video, don’t take things so seriously. I get where you are coming from but you need to understand that people are more inclined to listen to what you have to say when you aren’t insulting or belittling them for having fun

[@5kdamian]

Wonderful and moving description. Your profound reverence for what Beethoven accomplished is evident. Thank you for giving us this.

[@APfw-tri]

I know these aren't your newest videos, but just wanted to put it out there how much I appreciate the whole classic rock AND classical music on the same channel thing. Also that pitch dropped finale actually made me tear up. The warmth of the tone! What a project it would be, to perform it that way.

[@bobjason7540]

I had never read that letter before, and it actually brought me to tears. That would be absolute torture

[@mariodriessen9740]

Well, he probably didn't write that letter in English.

[@jonathanhorne6503]

I have tinnitus in both ears. Grateful the ring is the same pitch is the same in both ears. I’m 68 and played unprotected rock and roll and a 40+ year career as an aircraft mechanic. Jet engines, APUs and propellers. Young and fearless, “won’t happen to me”. Youthful ignorance and paying for it now.

[@micheltenvoorde]

Please don't stop educating a new generation, and all the best to you sir.

[@andrewc9719]

Rick, you’re such a humble guy. And a hell of a guitarist. You’re an inspiration to me as a musician, and as a human.

[@CarltonCullins]

Rick, I love all your videos. I'm a fellow musician myself. I just wanted to personally THANK YOU for doing this video! Great content. Never stop doing what you do!

[@richfahsbender7756]

Love when you cover the Classical and Baroque composers

[@gillan5]

As a German I thank you very much for this video Today, 250 years ago, Beethoven was born! - what a great day for mankind.

[@vkiperman]

this was a profound story. it made me sad. this humanized an icon for me. thanks for putting this out there. love your channel.

[@exdeecee]

Rick, thank you so much for knowing and sharing this. I'd considered giving up music-making (but then I found this recently) a year or two into more-on-than-off-tinnitus at age 70. Learning to ever so carefully compensate for expected HF loss finally in retirement and able to put my all into music, tinnitus came knocking. It's been an unwelcome but infrequent guest for going on 60 years, but has mostly not disturbed my willingness to make and my ability to love music. While I have nothing like perfect pitch, if anyone can make this kind of beauty come to life despite tinnitus and ultimately deafness, then - it can be done. You offered me and anyone in similar straits a great gift here, so thank you again!

[@nadimsawaya]

You should do some more classical music in your "what makes this song great" series, it would be fascinating to have you analyse certain segments of the great pieces! Greetings from Down Under!

[@RayC234]

Yes this! do this Rick!

[@bngr1]

great idea.

[@vextract4662]

Please! Could go on for years.

[@michaelwu7678]

Do you think Rick’s audience would really care about musical form, counterpoint, and theoretical structure? Just saying, they’re not very exciting topics for a general audience.

[@SoiledWig]

@@michaelwu7678 Rick has a flair for it that could make it interesting to the layman. It could create a lot of converts.

[@danielvaughan1047]

I got into Beethoven as a result of a movie called The Competition (Richard Dreyfuss,1980). He got a Razzie Award for that one, but there WAS a great scene where he, as a concert pianist in competition, objects to the conductor's interpretation of Beethoven's Fifth Piano Concerto, third movement. Because of that scene I bought a copy of the Fifth Piano Concerto and never looked back. I later found a Deutsche Gramophone 200th anniversary set of everything Beethoven wrote. 87 albums(!) for $135 in an antique shop. I listened to the 9th symphony for an entire year and got about 8 different versions because of the wildly different sound and emphasis of each. When you dig deep into something/anything, there are always subtleties invisible to the casual observer. And that's just Listening!

[@YoPaulieMusic]

That was an awesome movie!

[@rocksvelte5760]

Glad to see such enthusiasm for Beethoven, my absolute favorite musician of all time.

[@autry33]

Thank you for this. VERY moving and inspiring. I read Beethoven's letter a few years ago. His pain shook me. Incredible man!

[@ishayfriedman27]

"And the perfect ending, was a bit of the old Ludwig Van" - Alex, A Clockwork Orange

[@StoutMode]

I’ve never been a big Classical music fan unless it was Looney Tunes or a few film scores. I decided to listen to the whole 9th Symphony on Apple Music recorded by Herbert Von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic. I think it was recorded in 1962. Holy freaking cow! That 3rd movement had me in tears. I’ve never had music move me to this deep of a level. I cannot fathom how he wrote something so beautiful being deaf. This music and video is life changing. Thank you for this. Please do more videos like this one.

[@alvinlee2968]

I have only around 50 classical CDs. However I have thousands of jazz and rock. The third CD I purchased was Beethoven's Ninth. It really is rock as classical music. Pure greatness. And it's in my favorite movie "A Clockwork Orange" and I too was turned onto classical via Bugs Bunny et al.

[@brianvanderspuy4514]

I introduced a friend to the ninth some time ago. She started crying about a minute in, and by the end of the work was probably suffering from dehydration. :-)

[@omglolgiraffe]

Great taste! The 3rd movement is often overlooked but so beautiful.

[@paulmccurdie6253]

Beethoven is the only musician whose work moves me to tears. It’s so beautiful.

[@complexphenom402]

Karajan’s version is great!

[@thesoundchaser]

Great episode! His music never gets old; he combines beauty with power and passion with pain. Despite all of the hardships his music is forever optimistic and triumphant. Good wins in the end!

[@ssssssssssss885]

After listening to Beethoven's symphonies for years, this video taught me something I never really tried to imagine. Well done sir!

[@fivewattworld]

Love this Hypes! Very old school “Everything Music” topic.

[@RickBeato]

Thanks Hypes🙏🏻

[@randypowell7526]

If Beetoven were alive today, he would be in a metal band.

[@manganume]

@@randypowell7526 ummmmmmm...... nope.

[@losthor1zon]

@@randypowell7526 - maybe "deaf metal" (sorry, couldn't resist)

[@CorbCorbin]

@@HenritheHorse Deaf Jam Records

[@iridescent-frog1059]

The most impressive part it the fact that not only could he imagine all these symphonies in his head while struggling with tinnitus and hearing loss but to put all the music on paper is just outstanding. By the way Incredible video Rick

[@rudigerk]

It is also reported Max Reger once visited an Art Gallery and hours after he left it he was able to describe every little detail of the various Paintings ...

[@HaveUCalledPinkFloyd]

Rick, I enjoy your videos more than anything else on KZbin. I graduated in 78, play guitar, PF is my fav band, and I’ve lost my hearing on my right side; also have tinnitus. I can’t imagine the ability to hear music without the ability to hear. Amazing video! Thank you!

[@VRnamek]

another great episode, man. We often just hear his works, never try to imagine how he'd hear them. Summing up: getting old is hard enough, getting old while still young doubly so. Beethoven is my favorite, at least he could listen to them in his mind...

[@tinuvielgreenleaf6294]

10 years ago while I was listening to Beethoven's 7th symphony, 2nd movement allegretto, I suddenly started sobbing. Unspeakably beautiful. I became spooked, but in the best way, as while I listened I realized that I was *inside* Beethoven's mind and I was profoundly struck and swept over with emotion. Here I was listening to a preservation of his heart, soul, and mind, so distinct it was tangible. Like handling a relic. After that, I have heard music in an entirely different way. When you hear sound, sound physically moves your eardrum. When you hear music, the composer / musician moves your ear drum and is literally touching you. Spooky eerie astonishing in the most joyous way!!! The world is amazing.

[@beachcomber4141]

Indeed it is

[@strat0871]

Life, love, light, music, all are god's vibrations.

[@MarkLAsche]

Killer movement. Some neat and unexpected harmonic twists.

[@beachcomber4141]

@@MarkLAsche I don't know, but I kinda feel you phoned this description in. We are talking about Beethoven's 7th after all. Amazing human emotions discovered through music perhaps?? I never had a piece of music hit me and I thought "OMG!!! That was some unexpected harmonic twists there!!" But hey, could just be me. Life, love, light , and music.

[@nealsterling8151]

I could listen Rick talking about Beethoven for hours without getting bored.

[@davidnyberg8096]

First time viewer, Rick, at my son's suggestion. WAY cool, and so very relevant. I've been a singer all my life - now in my mid-60's - and the struggles / challenges I've faced with both hearing loss and tinnitus are exactly as you've described. Side bar: we must be dealing with the same frequency of tinnitus (mine is constant...) because I couldn't even hear your example, no matter how loud I turned up the laptop speakers! As for Beethoven, what a thoughtful, engaging presentation - THANK YOU. Keep up the great work...looking forward to more!

[@fateshighwaybandnewmexico2513]

Wow! One of the best videos you have done by far! Really makes a person think of the difficulty Beethoven had but yet he created some of the most beautiful music ever!

[@timharrington4470]

Beethoven, the overcomer. I was aware of his issues with hearing loss, however, this video gives me a greater appreciation of his determination and perseverance to create magnificent art that is appreciated to this very day. His imagination was far greater than his physical handicap. Now it is time for me to go listen to Beethoven's 9th with new admiration. What an interesting subject for a video, thank you for your hard work!

[@doughartley3513]

In addition to deafness, Beethoven was virtually always suffering from stomach troubles, diarrhea and exhaustion. And, he could still create masterpieces.

[@mjminjax]

I'm 63, and have been a musician at least 55 of those years. I had too many years of unprotected trombone playing, with the bell right next to my left ear, or sitting in front of the trumpet section, or singing in a choir located amidst pipe organ chambers. I've lost much of the hearing top end, and the missing sibilant sounds make understanding speech difficult without hearing aids. Noisy bass-loaded environments are a chaotic cacophony. Silence is much easier to take, but my love of music drives me to compensate and keep trying to listen and perform.

[@sherrillsturm7240]

Yes. As a symphony chorus member, we were often less than 2' behind brass, blasting our ears out.

[@internet_user975]

ok

[@johncoverstone6311]

I can't believe I missed this episode when you released it. As the resident audiologist follower of your videos, I want to thank you for talking about this and doing a pretty good job of representing hearing loss, how it progresses and how it affects people. Nice job with this segment.

[@duyguvulpes]

I am writing a speech about Beethoven's hearing loss, this video was incredibly helpful! I admire him so much and thank you for explaining this disability so perfectly.

[@manuelper]

Rick, this was one of the best things you've done on this channel. I enjoyed this immensely.

[@normd5776]

If there was a "What Makes This Song Great?" for the 9th Symphony, it would be much more than notes, scales and progressions. It would be the depth of a man's heart, mind and his very soul, and near 200 years later it still swells the heart and moves the soul.

[@nevertheless123]

very inspiring Rick. I dont always agree with you but I never question your enthusiasm and musical passion.

[@davidfrench4477]

That's what I love about Rick. He loves music and he helps me find new ways to love music.

[@richardlynch5632]

He must have felt a bit like Job. What he had accomplished is a lesson in resilience determination. Amazing.

[@ScrapPalletMan]

I had an ear infection that required tubes put through my eardrums. As a musician it changed songs to where I thought they were separate renditions but they were the actual recordings that I heard differently. My hearing was speckled with missing frequencies. It's all back now

[@leosklein575]

Had the same thing as a kid, but the buildup of scar tissue has left permanent frequency loss for me.

[@electricsun]

I’m the same, I hear very different frequencies on each ear, it really sucks!!!

[@nknighton70]

I went blind for a week. I was scared shitless.

[@joekelley5121]

I too had tubes put in my ears at 9 years old. This was way back in '75. I had frequent ear infections up to then, and man they were painful! I was told my right eardrum collapsed completely, and my left one just partially. Tubes, along with removing my adenoids and tonsils helped clear up the problem for the most part. I've had occasional ringing in my ears, along with temporary attenuation in my hearing that would come back usually within a minute or so. Hearing can be so finicky! That was 45 years ago and thankfully still hear well enough. Glad your hearing is ok now, Scrap!

[@MrJhonbaker]

I had tubes in my ears and now have pretty severe tinnitus - my higher frequencies and lost ones never came back and I'm gradually losing my hearing because of it. My son is a fabulous musician with great hearing and I quietly live through his joy.

[@jennyshen1528]

Thank you for making these educational videos! As a composer and visual learner, I find history & analysis videos like this really helpful.

[@ShineDawg]

You are an amazing teacher, Rick because you have a way of telling me what I need to know. I always feel like practicing after watching your videos. Thank you!

[@BeeWhistler]

One of the high points in my life was being able to be part of the chorus performing the last movement of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony at the LA Arboretum in 1997. They asked for people from local church choirs to join in with a regional choir and I brought my humble, 7th grade middle school choir trained alto for something I had considered a dream I might never achieve. I’m no musician... I know what all the letters are but music is an enormous struggle for me. My talents lie very much elsewhere. About the only thing I brought to the party was a smattering of German and knowledge of how to pronounce it. But I adore music and that piece was a favorite. Actually, I had one more bonus... I was 7 months pregnant by the time we performed and curiously this actually made me able to open up my lungs like never before or since. Guess she was holding my rib cage open or something. I was also struggling with panic attacks, but I knew there was a chance that a stay at home mom painter would never run into an opportunity like this... being allowed into a choir to sing that piece, without having to audition. ;) I knew I’d regret it if I let the chance get away. And I could tell my daughter could hear something through all those layers, probably similar to what Beethoven heard, based on her squirming when we really got going!

[@MattH-wg7ou]

Thats awesome thanks for sharing! Sounds like quite an amazing experience you were blessed to be a part of!

[@hunt4historynv]

Thank you! I love everything about your comment. Really appreciate the spirit of gratitude & being blessed in your words.They blessed me. Be well...

[@vdefilippo]

All the scholarly articles about Beethoven and his composing music while deaf but I've never heard anyone suggest it's a half tone off from what he imagined. Really interesting idea.

[@stpd1957]

This is a great video Rick. I adore Beethoven's music. I have more than 20 boxsets of his complete symphonies and several box sets of his string quartets and piano music too. He was a genius.

[@turntablesrockmyworld9315]

Rick Beato on Beethoven: "It's hard to believe that someone could create something so beautiful." Also, Rick Beato: "Here's what makes this Blink 182 song great".

[@jdmagpie]

He truly was someone that the music lived inside him and he released it out into the world. Happy (almost) 250th birthday, Ludwig. The world wouldn't have been the same without you.

[@stevewimmeryoga]

I'd never considered how the range of pitches Beethoven was able to hear impacted his note choices as his hearing diminished, and how it opened up again following complete hearing loss. Fascinating exploration!

[@paulnorell7201]

Thank you so much Rick. I have been a Beethoven addict since my teens (I am now nearly 70) and have always wondered how - and why - Beethoven pursued his vision while deaf. Your insights have proved invaluable and immensely entertaining. Thank you.

[@johnbender5356]

The way you shook your head in the first 3 seconds shows how you are still blown away by this.

[@aaronclift]

I'm a musician with perfect pitch, and even I'm astounded at how Beethoven managed to compose music in his head.

[@Henry-uv9xu]

When listening to Beethoven’s music you feel your mind, heart, and soul be uplifted towards Heaven. His music is universal, and it touches me in a way that few other composers’ music can. His music is an expression of God.

[@strat0871]

Right, and I feel exactly the same about JS Bach.

[@cristianonogueira2483]

I feel the same, man. This symphony is GOD talking to us.

[@g.o.a.t5975]

Agreed. Beethoven's moonlight sonata 1st movement is very heart touching for me. Still can't believe he was deaf.

[@rmcellig]

My favorite symphony of Beethoven's is his 7th. I find it, for me is his most inspiring and beautiful. Everytime I hear it, I hear the joy of living. It's hard to explain.

[@dmitrivassiliev15]

Rick, amazing! You are amazing. I wish I had a deep, inspirational teacher like you 30 years ago. Love you, man.

[@kitchen76]

This was fantastic. My father was a huge Beethoven fan, especially the late string quartets.He passed away last week. We played the 15th string quartet at his funeral. He would have loved this kind of analyses. Thanks for this!

[@katherineg9396]

My Dad taught me to love classical music and he loved Beethoven too. I played the final movement of the 9th Symphony in his room when he died. My deepest sympathies for your loss.

[@kitchen76]

@@katherineg9396 Thanks. 🙏🏻😔

[@realmz]

YES Rick! I was really interested in this particular subject.

[@someguyfrommaine]

Same. I need a break from politics 👍🏻

[@catwalks1201]

That was a very interesting demonstration. I discovered Beethoven only last year and I was so blown away by the energy and the truth in his music that you can not withdraw from (and I was moved by his extraordinary and also tragic life).I happened to hit on the "Chorfantasie" which is not so well known, I think, but it kinda reminded me of the Ode to joy - the same feeling of excitement, unity of mankind etc. I love it! I think, you´re right: one should not leave this world without having heard the 9th symphony. For everybody out there who wants to read about Beethoven and doesn´t want to hit on too much complicated music theory: I´d recommend the biography by Jan Caers (I read it in German but there´s an English edition too). It´s soo well written. He writes about Beethoven as if he had been there as his friend. Just remarkable.

[@diannegire1728]

Thank you so much for this - it's wonderful! I am going to show this to my high school students during our segment on Classical Music!!

[@jonerwood2314]

I had always heard that Beethoven had gone deaf, and it was amazing to me that he could still compose. But your explanation was so much more compelling that it drove me to tears; The sheer genius and determination of the man! Thank You for this. Please, make more like this!

[@sonnywc]

Not only had imagined that in his head, imagine putting together 10 different parts in your head and listening to them at the same time. Unbelievable.

[@chris_devlog]

Your demonstration of what he would've been hearing was so powerful. Just amazing what some humans achieve

[@brandorev]

Thank you for the this. As someone who has highly pitch nerve deafness (failing the school hearing tests) I resonate with this. By far, Beethoven is my favorite (Bach up there too). Having difficulty hearing but enjoy classical music adds another level of my connection to Beethoven and my appreciation for his work. Thank you for to us. I cannot imagine a world without music.