This is the most utterly devastating letter I've ever read. There are many tragedies in the history of art and science. In music Mozart comes to mind. In mathematics Galois and Abel. The tragedy arises in different ways. Some people die too early, depriving all people to come of the lost works of their genius. Mozart is the most crushing example of this kind of tragedy. But from what I know, he doesn't seem to have been particularly unhappy. Beethoven, in contrast, didn't die particularly early. But from the age of 20 until his death in 1827 at age 57, he was almost totally deaf. 37 years of silence to one of the greatest benefactors to mankind the world will ever know. When I feel disappointed in life, I need only think upon this letter to put my sorrow into perspective.
This is Rudy. You were my best man at my wedding. Ring any bells?
ReplyDeleteThe Heiligenstadt Testament is indeed a most Romantic document, intensely personal, poignant, heroic in a sense. But you know, it seems to me people will often use the journal format or the 'middle of the night' long letter to emote that which terrifies, pains, or mortifies them. If you read their journals you might be tempted to think that the author leads a sad, depressing existence. However, the good things, those might be left for the light of day and for his/her every day life, away from later generations' intrusive gaze. Glenn Gould says that in order to create and achieve ART, one must achieve the "ecstatic state". Perhaps the Testament is a glimpse of a personal sort of temporary "ecstasy" for which there might be no extended daily vibrancy. Otherwise, Beethoven was one sad sob. But really, could you compose music of that calibre with sadness in your heart? Would not the act of composition itself transform sadness into ecstasy?
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ReplyDeleteThanks