Beethoven and Deafness

I found this article, by a profoundly deaf composer, to be very interesting. It reminded me of a deaf classmate I had in high school who became quite a skilled drummer, unable to hear the beats but able to feel them, as well as feeling notes from other instruments.
I Think Beethoven Encoded His Deafness in His Music - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

John, the article was fascinating. Ironically, I happened to be listening to Beethoven's 9 symphonies when I saw your post.

My extended family was discussing, not Beethoven, but Matthew Whitaker earlier today.  Matthew is a musical prodigy, and like Gabriela Frank, but unlike Beethoven, Matthew was disabled from birth.  However, unlike Beethoven and Gabriela, Matthew's disability is blindness.  Nevertheless, their brains all seem to have adapted marvelously to their circumstances, and in ways that facilitate conceiving music from the inside out.  In Matthew's case, his visual cortex lights up like a Christmas tree when he plays or hears music.  

Humanity is an astonishing creation.

Matthew Whitaker: 60 Minutes profiles the blind musical prodigy

Wow! Mr. Whitaker is quite amazing. Thank you, both, for sharing.

<snip> In Matthew's case, his visual cortex lights up like a Christmas tree when he plays or hears music.  

Humanity is an astonishing creation.

Matthew Whitaker: 60 Minutes profiles the blind musical prodigy

There are other folks with similar wiring in their brains. People who experience colors in ways others can't; smell, taste, I can't remember exactly. The wiring crosses over and results in this. And we as a species continues to change. 300 years ago people couldn't discern the colors we do today.