Is it true that only depress people can create the best musical works? Example Chopin, Beethoven?

Answer 1

The image we are often presented with when dealing with composers are that these guys are dirt-poor, honest, failed miserably and only appreciated after death, and compose with the help of a miserable candle. While most began that way, they earned quite a sum of money as they progressed.

Beethoven in fact had rich patrons who would lay the earth under his feet would Beethoven had asked. He was not depressed in any sense, and the sudden onset of his deafness merely stressed the level of his genius, who could compose from mere vibrations.

Bach composed a lot of masterpieces, and he had three wives and children enough to populate a small ensemble! Now, how happy is that? As for Chopin, well, we had to agree he was rather unhappy, but only because he was already sickly from an early age.

Mendelssohn, who wrote that heart-wrenching 1st movement of his Violin Concerto, was by all means a happy fellow. His revival movement of Bach was well-received, and he traveled around extensively that fed his Muse well with inspiration.

Tchaikovsky might be the least happy. From outside he was a successful man, in work and in life. However he harboured a secret that was punishable by law - he was a homosexual. And yet, his music was all sweet and happy-happy!

Hope that sparks your interest, and remember, good music doesn't have to hurt!

Answer 2

Not necessarily. It's a common perception. But I wonder if it's really true. I wrote a report in a college psychology class, exploring these issues.

I believe it was the composers' biographer Arnold Schonberg who described Haydn and Dvorak as "the two exceptions," meaning that, of all the greatest composers in history, they were the two who lived happy, well-balanced lives. LOL

But I think that's a bit of an exaggeration. We like to romanticize our geniuses. When we hear a work like Beethoven's 9th Symphony, we know that nobody else in the world could have written it. So we think, "Where could he have gotten that? He must have taken a journey into emotional depths where nobody else could bear to go."

It is true that many great composers (and other geniuses, for that matter) had unbalance in their lives. Tchaikovsky died in disgrace for being a homosexual. Chopin had chronic tuberculosis and coughed blood onto the keyboard during concerts. Mozart had a stifling love / hate relationship with his father. Schumann believed that dead composers recited their unwritten music to him in the middle of the night. Ernest Hemingway and Kurt Cobain had severe substance abuse problems and blew their own heads off. Etc. etc.

But you know what, everybody has drama in their life. Nobody is happy 100% of the time. I think that history loves to dramatize the lives of our great figures. After their deaths, suddenly Lincoln was depressed, Kennedy was a sex addict, Churchill was an alcoholic, Princess Di was unfaithful ... and now I've even read that Charles M. Schulz's new biographer is going to depict him as being darkly depressed.

There are also really upbeat, inspiring people who give us great music and art. BB King, Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, Jerry Seinfeld, Paul Newman ... these are just a few that come to mind right now.

Answer 3

Sometimes depression requires an outlet, and these talented composers have the ability to show it through music. It goes for modern musicians like Kurt Cobain and INXS frontman, Michael Hutchence.

But that's just one form of creating great music. I'm sure they're actually just a minority, as there are many that aren't depressed and create amazing works.

Answer 4

Definitely not!
Music is about expressing emotion, so it does make sense that some great composers were depressed. After all, a lot of times, it's our suffering that makes for the most powerful statement - and therefore, the most powerful music.
But yes, as others before me have said, there are equally happy composers who reflect that in their works, too. So by no means are ALL great composers depressed.

Answer 5

depressed might not be the word ou want. maybe like... misunderstood is a little better. right now I can only think of the darker side of composers, and it seems kinda true. but maybe they were depressed because they couldn't express what they wanted to express, and the resulting emotion created something beautiful.

Answer 6

There are a lot of young composers these years that live a happy modern life that compose some grate classical music.

Answer 7

Well, no ..... but it is said that a lot of great creative artists suffer .....for what reason we do not know ... maybe the swings in their moods come from something somewhere pulling them into making art that makes a light, an understanding to explain life to those people who are in need of solace, in need of attention, and illumination ....... and it is possible that the people who need that sort of attention are very upset, which might create depression in the artist himself.... in other words, you take on the color of the atmosphere in which you dwell ... that is why people meditate: to escape to peace and tranquillity ...... just a thought ... hope it is helpful for you

Answer 8

many many artists suffer from mental and emotional "challenges". all the thinking can drive them mad.being able to harness the thoughts and express them, while still keep an essential sanity is the trick.
medication can help with the thinking when it gets overwhelming, but it can also curtail the creativity. again, a risk that must be weighed carefully.

Answer 9

No, there a few great composers who composed music while happy, but they usually had some suffering earlier in their life. Eduard Grieg and Brahms were fairly happy when they were still composing great music, but they did have considerable suffering earlier in life.

Answer 10

BEETHOVEN — and »depressed« ??

Do You mean that
Ludwig van B-e-e-t-h-o-v-e-n.... ?

How could a guy being depressed and
making this Great DIVINE Music — at the same time !??

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Aaron.