Aaron Rabushka <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>I've also heard that some of Bach's visual problems came from
>>his hand-copying The FitzWilliam (cap?) Virginal Book by moonlight.
Bob Lyman added:
>My understanding is that both Bach's and Handel's blindness was partially
>the result of years of eye strain. I believe this was a fairly common
>occurance with composers (and copyists, writers, etc.) who managed to reach
>advanced years.
And when one thinks of doing musical notation by candlelight, it is easy to
see why...
>Delius managed to figure out a system for dictating his
>music to an assistant after he went blind.
Of course Delius lived into the era of electric light, so his case was
different.
Julia Werthimer <[log in to unmask]>
California, USA