Ludwig van Beethoven was just 25 years old when the first signs of impending deafness began to manifest in 1795. The devastating impact of this fate on him is well documented in his letters. His "Heiligenstadt Testament" from 1802, in particular, stands as a harrowing testimony of a man being gradually pushed out of the world of sound. Beethoven's despair and bitterness would frequently find expression in his works, such as in his Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, which he subtitled "Grande Sonate Pathétique."
In the history of music, Beethoven was, of course, not the only master to struggle with deteriorating hearing. Especially in rock music, where stars expose themselves to years or even decades of thunderous sound blasting from monster speakers and high-end amplifiers, many end up hearing everything as though through a thick curtain. Pete Townshend of The Who is one such case, as is Eric Clapton. While the Dutch musician Stephen Emmer may not have reached their level of fame, his time as a member of bands like Minny Pops has left a lasting impact on him. Today, Emmer suffers from tinnitus, commonly known as "ringing in the ears." In Germany alone, an estimated three million people grapple with this auditory condition, whose effects range from hissing and screeching to a nerve-wracking buzzing. Many become so desperate that they fall into deep depression.
However, instead of surrendering to this irreversible condition, Emmer is fighting back in his own way. He founded the "Artist against Tinnitus" foundation, aiming to encourage artists across generations to connect and find solutions together. Additionally, he has just released a new album titled "Mt. Mundane," in which he processes his personal struggle. Composed for orchestra, piano, and boy soloist, Emmer tells his story in 15 "Cinematic Adagios." Musically, however, the work is neither gloomy nor introspective. Emmer's richly colourful orchestrations draw inspiration from the legacy of great French composers Debussy and Ravel.
But Stephen Emmer is not the only one profoundly affected by tinnitus. The Bohemian composer Bedřich Smetana nearly went mad from it, as he confessed in a letter: "The greatest torment is the almost unceasing noise within, which roars in my head and at times swells to a stormy clatter."
[Rondo Magazine - Pasticcio - 25 August 2024]
