The Deaf Composer: How Beethoven wrote music he couldn’t hear

Twenty Thousand Hertz

Dallas Taylor

Music, Design, Arts, Music Commentary

4.8 • 4.1K Ratings

🗓️ 30 April 2025

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What happens when one of history’s greatest composers begins to lose the very sense he relies on most? In this episode, we explore how Ludwig van Beethoven continued to create groundbreaking music even as his world fell into silence. Along the way, we uncover the myths, inventions, and raw determination that fueled Beethoven’s defiant creativity, and hear how his lifelong struggles are reflected in his music. Featuring musicologist Laura Tunbridge, author of Beethoven: A Life in Nine Pieces. Enter the “Sound Off” Story Contest at ⁠20k.org/soundoff⁠. Submissions close on May 7th, 2025. Explore the all new ⁠Defacto Sound website⁠, and click the ⁠Contact Form⁠ to get in touch. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at ⁠mystery.20k.org⁠. Follow Dallas on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠ and ⁠LinkedIn⁠. Join our community on ⁠Reddit⁠ and follow us on ⁠Facebook⁠. Start your free online visit for hair loss treatment at hims.com/20k. Cut your current cloud bill in half with OCI at ⁠oracle.com/20k⁠. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: ⁠www.20k.org/episodes/the-deaf-composer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey listeners. First, an exciting announcement.
0:03.0	20,000 Hertz just won a Webby Award in the Science and Education category.
0:08.0	Now, most of our awards through the years have centered around production and sound design.
0:13.0	And while I'm super proud of that aspect too, it means a lot for 20,000 Hertz to be recognized for its educational value and not just its production polish.
0:22.3	The award was for our episode about whale song and undersea noise pollution.
0:27.0	It's called Sounds of the Deep, Mysteries and Threats Beneath the Waves, and it came out last
0:31.8	May.
0:32.8	So if you haven't heard it, scroll back and give it a listen.
0:36.1	Secondly, a reminder that our Sound Off story competition is open until May 7th.
0:41.3	If you're an audio storyteller of any kind, or just interested in audio storytelling,
0:45.8	this is your chance to craft your own mini 20,000 Hertz episode.
0:50.0	It doesn't have to be perfect, just do your best.
0:52.3	We just want the story to be around five minutes or less, and relate to sound in some way.
0:57.0	It can include interviews, music, sound design, or any other creative elements that help the narrative.
1:03.0	We'll count down the winning stories in a special episode this summer.
1:06.0	The top creator will also get a private feedback session with our team,
1:10.0	plus $100 credit to our online store.
1:12.8	To see the full details and submit your story, visit 20k.org slash soundoff. There's also a link in the show notes.
1:21.3	Before we get started, this episode is clean as always, but discusses Beethoven's experience with isolation, depression, and thoughts of giving up on life.
1:31.1	If you have younger listeners who may not be ready for that kind of discussion, you may want to preview at first.
1:36.5	You're listening to 20,000 Hertz.
1:41.1	I'm Dallas Taylor.
	...

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