Dealing with Disabilities

 

Several famous classical piano composers created monumental keyboard works while managing severe physical and mental disabilities. Here is a sampling

Maria Theresia von Paradis (1759–1824), an Austrian pianist and composer, lost her sight before age five. She toured Europe as a virtuoso, performed entirely from memory, and composed extensively for the piano using special assistive composition boards.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827): fought progressive hearing loss beginning in his late 20s, eventually becoming entirely deaf. He continued composing masterworks like the Hammerklavier Sonata and late bagatelles by feeling the vibrations of the instrument and relying on his inner ear.

Robert Schumann (1810–1856) suffered from severe mental illness, depressive episodes, and melancholia. He also experienced a debilitating hand injury/dystonia that ended his concert pianist career, shifting his immense creative focus entirely to composition (including his celebrated Piano Concerto in A minor).

Alexander Scriabin (1872–1915) and Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943): both experienced severe physical ailments and chronic nerve/joint pain affecting their hands and bodies during various points of their intensive performing and composing careers

Maurice Ravel (1875–1937) endured a progressive neurological brain disease in his later years. Though it limited his output, his earlier keyboard innovations and pieces remain foundational. (He also famously wrote the Piano Concerto for the Left Hand for Paul Wittgenstein, a pianist who lost his right arm in WWI).

Ringing in the New Year with January-born Piano Composers

 Several classical composers started their lives at the beginning of a year: January. As a good first example is one of Tomoko’s favorite harpsichord and fortepiano composers: Mozart, who was born on January 27, 1756 in Vienna.  Here are some more famous January piano composers.

Franz Schubert was born on January 31, 1797, in Himmelpfortgrund, Austria. Although he died early, at age 31, Schubert composed more than 600 secular vocal works and with many piano pieces. Tomoko performed one of his famous works: Trout Quintet.

Giovani Battista Draghi was born on January 4, 1710, om Jesi, Italy. He too died early: at age 26, from tuberculosis. Nevertheless, he is considered one of the greatest composers of the early 18^th century. Known for his Baroque pieces, the most famous is his Stabat Mater. Draghi was also an accomplished organist.

Alexander Scriabin was born on January 6, 1872, in Moscow. He was largely influenced by Chopin and is associated with late Romanticism and Russian symbolism. In turn, he influenced Stravinsky and Prokofiev. During his life, Scriabin was known as a controversial professional pianist besides being a composer. Scriabin’s ten sonatas for piano have become increasingly acclaimed.  

Francis Poulenc was born on January 7, 1899, in Paris. Among his compositions were solo piano works, the most famous one being the Trois Mouvements Perpetuels suite. His Organ Concerto is also well known. Under Satie’s mentorship, Poulenc was part of Les Six: six young neoclassic composers. He started playing the piano at age six, and was influenced by Schubert and Stravinsky.

Frederick Delius was born on January 29, 1862, in Bradford, England. While he taught violin, he took more delight in improvising on the piano. Like Scriabin, Delius was first influenced by Chopin. While he lived in Florida to manage his family’s orange plantation, he began composing, having been influence by African-American music there. He was not successful in agriculture but he was promoted by several conductors. The Delius Society continues to promote him, and sponsors an annual Delius Prize competition for young musicians.