Beethoven loss of hearing

[Richard Moody]

I heard this from a technician who visited Germany and in a museum 
was shown a horn type hearing "aid" that Beethoven had used.  The
part that went into the ear still had the remains of dried blood as
he probably kept jambing it into his ear harder and harder to hear
just a little better. 

rm 

----------
> From: Les Smith <lessmith@buffnet.net>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: gals
> Date: Monday, August 18, 1997 9:51 PM
> 
> 
> 
>
> 
> One of the saddest accounts I ever read about Beethoven, was
written by
> someone (I forget who, right at the moment) who had gone to see
Ludwig
> near the end of his life. Beethoven at this time was totally deaf.
The
> writer reported that Beethoven went to play for him on one of
Nanette's
> pianos which he owned. The piano was a shambles--broken
strings,broken
> hammers, horrendously out-of-tune etc. Beethoven reportedly played
totally
> oblivious to the condition of the piano, hearing the music only in
his
> mind, not with his ears. :(
> 
> Les Smith 
>