What is the commonality between Handel, Ravel and Beethoven?

BRY2K

Each of them succombed to an accident/injury in their lifetimes that impaired their senses. Around 1796, Beethoven began to lose his hearing.[8] He suffered a severe form of tinnitus, a "ringing" in his ears that made it hard for him to perceive and appreciate music; he also avoided conversation. By 1814 Beethoven was totally deaf, and when visitors saw him play a loud arpeggio or thundering bass notes at his piano remarking, "Ist es nicht schön?" (Isn't that beautiful?), they felt deep sympathy, and saw his courage and sense of humor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_van_Beethoven In 1932 Ravel sustained an accidental blow to the head while riding in a taxi. The injury was considered minor, but soon thereafter he began to complain of aphasia-like symptoms similar to Pick's disease. In late 1937 Ravel consented to brain surgery. One hemisphere of his brain was re-inflated with serous fluid. He awoke from the surgery, called for his brother Edouard, lapsed into a coma, and died shortly after. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Ravel In April 1737, aged 52, Handel suffered a stroke or some other malady which left his right arm temporarily paralysed and stopped him from performing. He also complained of difficulties in focusing his sight. In 1751 his eyesight started to fail in one eye. The cause was unknown and progressed into his other eye as well. He died some eight years later, in 1759. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Frideric_Handel Feb 11 08, 2:28 PM

Arpeggionist

Besides all of them having some sort of handicap (not even the same one) later in life, and besides Beethoven liking Handel's music and Ravel liking Beethoven's, nothing. In fact, Handel had more in common with Bach on these counts. Slightly earlier than Handel's eyesight started to go, Bach developed cataracts in both of his eyes. Bach and Handel had the same eye doctor attempt to treat their maladies. Bach's eyesight miraculously returned to him ten days before his death. Handel's eyesight just got steadily worse. As for Beethoven's deafness, it was shared by a handful of composers since, including Bedrich Smetena. Among Robert Schumann's symptoms in the last few years of his life (which drove him insane) was a ringing in his ears, and he also heard voices. Later, Clara Schumann also steadily went deaf (though by then she had given up composing). Feb 12 08, 5:22 AM