One of the most beautiful things about music is the way it reflects the essence of its own creation. Through music, we can see moments in time. Memories, sorrow, conflict, love – all frozen, like a polaroid photograph of a time long passed. In modern day, this is much more literal, thanks to the recording technology we possess. But for classical music, a performer can, if they really listen, feel everything the composer felt when the piece was written. Centuries ago, someone channeled their emotions into a piece as a means of catharsis, and those feelings still survive.
Emotion is likely humanity’s greatest strength. Without our complex emotions, art would not exist in the first place. Music can come from many places, depending completely on its composer. It can reflect the beauty of the world around us, the warmth and devotion of true love, and even our darkest, scariest feelings and thoughts. It is no wonder, then, that those predisposed to feeling emotion more intensely than others are capable of astonishing creative works.
Many great composers of the Classical period suffered from severe mental illness- the kind that can take over one’s entire life. Bipolar disorder is the most common amongst them, though diagnosis was essentially nonexistent at the time. Early names for the disorder included circular madness and manic depression. It can be hard to diagnose bipolar disorder even in the modern era; its many colors and symptoms have eluded explanation since the condition’s roots in the Paleolithic era. We know, now, what BP can look like. With that retrospect, the lives of some of the world’s most prolific composers can be analyzed through a new lens. No longer mad geniuses, but creative, passionate people who suffered with an incurable disorder in a time where there simply was no treatment.
Statistically, the percentage of classical music composers who suffered from a mood disorder ranges between 34.6% and 41%. Musicians, overall, have a higher rate of mental illness. In at least one third of these cases, the symptoms have dramatically affected the flow of the composer’s creative work, relationships, and lives. Robert Schumann (a romantic composer, technically) is an excellent example of a bipolar musician. His musical output increased and decreased over the course of his life, reflecting the ever changing state of his mood. Other composers cited to be on the bipolar spectrum include Berlioz, Brahms, Cherubnini, Duparc, Gluck, Mahler, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Rossini, Schubert, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, and Wolf.
So, why are there so many bipolar classical composers? It’s all based on the way mood disorders affect the brain. Bipolar disorder alters the entire way one experiences life. I’m a bipolar musician myself, so I think speaking from experience would be the best way to communicate what it’s like. During manic episodes, I’m able to get a lot done creatively. I practice more, write more, and improve rapidly. Unfortunately, mania also brings a massive increase in anxiety, irritability, and impulsive behavior.
When the mania ends, there’s a crash. Depression sets in, and suddenly everything good I’ve done can feel distant, like it never happened. I can try hard to be creative, and sometimes I can, but it will always reflect the pain I feel. No matter what state I’m in, every emotion is dialed up to 100%, every little bit of stimulus feels huge. So, it makes complete sense that the way bipolar people experience music is different.
Neurobiologically, the association between music and mood is within the right hemisphere of the brain. Those with bipolar disorders are more likely to have different pathology in the right hemisphere, which facilitates the experience of music and poetry. This explains why studies have shown that bipolar patients show high levels of creativity. Every emotion comes through stronger, whether you’re listening to, performing, or writing music. It’s important to clarify, though, that this creativity does not guarantee greatness. Bipolar people have to fight just to function at all, and being able to actually make something of their boundless creativity is a huge accomplishment. Many people would be surprised to find out how many remarkable artists in history were bipolar. For example; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Mozart is possibly the most famous and influential classical composer of all time. His 600 works for piano, choir, chamber music, opera, and symphonic music have become standards for performance and analysis. It’s well known that Mozart was a child prodigy, but less people know that Mozart suffered from bipolar disorder. In his letters, he mentioned his deep sadness, tearfulness, and depression. He also had difficulties concentrating, experienced massive energy loss, and had inappropriate feelings of guilt. From today’s diagnostic standards, these symptoms meet all the criteria for a depressive episode.
Mozart also experienced manic episodes. During these episodes, he would often wake up at 6am and work until 2am, reflecting a disturbed sleep schedule and increase in goal directed activity, two hallmarks of mania. He also wrote letters which were almost incoherent and full of very inappropriate humor. He also had difficulty handling money, and needed his father’s help with finances. Mozart also could not tolerate being alone, and demanded a lot of attention from his wife, father, and other important people in his life. He is also noted to have had temperamental outbursts during these times. All of these symptoms meet the criteria for a manic episode.
Mozart died too young, at age 35 in Vienna, Austria. His death has attracted a lot of speculation. It’s commonly said that he died of disease, but nobody can seem to identify which. Unfortunately, this too is typical of bipolar disorder. A recent study shows that those with the condition are more likely to die from a number of causes, and to die almost a decade younger than the average population. These rates are not just because of suicide, as is commonly believed. In fact, bipolar sufferers are at an increased risk of dying from a number of conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, the flu, and pneumonia. Unfortunately, we don’t know exactly why this happens. We do know, now, that bipolar disorder often affects the entire body.
Too many bipolar musicians have died young; from Mozart to Kurt Cobain. The statistics can be overwhelming, making this disorder feel like a death sentence to many. But there is a lot of inspiration and comfort to be found in the art they’ve left behind. Yes, there is a lot of pain, but there’s also so much creativity and passion. For me, personally, to know that people with my condition have the capability to be truly great means everything. Their music is hope. It’s full of all the big emotions I and so many others live with every day, and in that there is both solidarity and comfort.
The term “mad genius” just isn’t fair to all of these great people. Bipolar disorder is not madness, and reducing it to such diminishes the accomplishments of some of the greatest artists of all time. They weren’t a stereotype, they were (and are) real people whose brains happened to be wired differently. The creativity of bipolar people is the illness’ one gift to (some of) those who have it, but it’s often hard to work through the pain and use it. Great bipolar musicians; Mozart, Schumann, even Hendrix and Cobain, were not great because of their illness.
They were great in spite of it.
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