Fundamentals of Interpretation

[SteveO]

thanks Bellini! I knew he became deaf in his later years, having the ability to recite or compose music in your mind is fascinating. I guess we all can do that to some extent.
How did he convey the score for example, Ninth Symphony, how was it notated to sheet music, he must have knew what notes to use by listening to his composition in his conscience?...fascinating...I think the choral passage of Ode to Joy is "out of this world"..very powerful and emotional!

I'm back, SteveO, to lend you my opinion on Beethoven's deafness. He wasn't born deaf. He was victim of some sort of illness which brought about sclerosis in his acoustic apparatus. Therefore he had listened to music and studied it, very hard and with passionate committment. I believe he could 'hear' his own music inside him. Heard it play in his soul. I've heard music played inside my soul, even in my dreams, because I know it well. Beethoven knew it even better. How could he have composed the Ninth Symphony without knowing what the musical result would be? But the sad thing is, he never heard his great composition played by an orchestra and chorus. He was stone deaf when the ninth was presented for the first time in Vienna. Incredible, really.