4. Ludwig van Beethoven revolutionized music and was bipolar
It is hard to overstate the importance of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) to the history of music. Beethoven grew up in the shadow of such greats as Handel, Bach, and Mozart, but his genius saw him try to find an idiosyncratic voice to express himself artistically. He irreversibly expanded the scope of sonata, symphony, and concerto: music has never been the same. Beethoven’s compositions marked the transition from the Classical period of music to the Romantic, and continue to inspire, perplex, and intimidate musicians to this day. In fact, Beethoven is widely viewed as the greatest composer who ever lived.
As well as overcoming his tragic deafness, Beethoven also fought against mental illness, most likely bipolar disorder. Like Lincoln, Beethoven’s suffering shows how mental health problems can arise in the most enviably successful of all people. He attempted suicide in 1813 and, when his deafness became apparent, wrote that: ‘I joyfully hasten to meet death… for will it not deliver me from endless suffering?’ Beethoven’s bipolar disorder, however, actually helped his musical innovation, as he focused his manic energy on improvising on the piano. Sadly, though, it was his use of alcohol to alleviate his anguish that ultimately killed him.
