Not impossible for Beethoven, but DEFINITELY unproved.

Music Lane

It's all about the music, dude! Sit down, relax and listen to some tunes.

In Reply to: Not for Beethoven. Perhaps for Schubert. (nt) posted by kuma on January 15, 2015 at 14:33:13:

The only book that has nudged me away from my negative stance on LvB/Syphilis as opposed to alcoholism and heavy-metal poisoning is:

She makes a good case for fever and rash soon after LvB's reaching Vienna.

I actually corresponded with her extensively as to whether Charlie Parker's first (teenaged) wife's report of Charlie's sleeping with his penis tied up in a handkerchief, and then his disappearing for what his mother called a "cure," indicated that neural lesions might have played some role in Parker's ecstatic improvising.

To her credit, she does not see Syphilis under every bed, and her final answer was that given other STDs, in the absence of credible reports of fever and rash, and given that even assuming Parker lied about his age to make himself more of a prodigy, he did not live long enough to develop tertiary symptoms, Syphilis should be ruled out not in.

So if her balance tips toward Syphilis for LvB, I am more inclined to believe it than before I read her entire book and corresponded with her.

How's that?

jm

Pox, the book (Open in New Window)

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - "Beethoven May Have Composed Masterpieces To His Own Irregular Heartbeat" - bruckner9 10:05:56 01/12/15 (7)

Ode to the Joy of Syphillis... - genungo 10:50:08 01/15/15 (2)

Not for Beethoven. Perhaps for Schubert. (nt) - kuma 14:33:13 01/15/15 (1)

Not impossible for Beethoven, but DEFINITELY unproved. - John Marks 21:15:57 01/15/15 (0)

Total Crap - Mike Porper 16:15:23 01/12/15 (2)

What heartbeat, if any, does the composer of a Missa Solemnis feel? nt - tinear 08:41:06 01/15/15 (0)

But of course there's the "heart murmur" motive. . . - Chris from Lafayette 16:34:55 01/12/15 (0)

I saw that - seems like junk speculation (not even science) to me [nt] - Chris from Lafayette 10:38:15 01/12/15 (0)

Follow Ups

Not impossible for Beethoven, but DEFINITELY unproved. - John Marks 21:15:57 01/15/15 (0)

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