Re:I Think Beethoven Encoded His Deafness in His Music
by corin_ on Sunday January 17, 2021 @02:01AM
(#25808786)
I obviously can't speak to Beethoven, but I have witnessed a couple of very successful modern composers (of classical music) - just in passing now and then, I didn't sit down and study their methodology, but can definitely vouch for having seen extremely talented and successful composers sat at a keyboard instrument tapping out ideas.
No doubt they, like Beethoven, would be much more able to compose some if not all in their heads than i would be, but it doesn't mean they don't still find useful, at least sometimes, basic stuff that amateur composers do.
> My impression is that when you hear something aloud it's nearly always different to some degree from what you imagined in your head
For me and probably you, sure. For Beethoven, I seriously doubt they differed much at all.
The piano sonatas are ridiculously challenging and I'm more than willing to go along with you, but we could be wrong. I like your analysis and never thought about it that way. In general though as a (below-average) composer yes, I'm very certain about hearing things in your head. If I can do it he could do it with infinitely greater depth and efficiency.
About that particular piece, there's also the remote possibility of an editing or transcription disaster. He was not exactly thrilled with his publishers. More likely the former but I think you're right, the intent was probably there in his head.