Was Chopin really epileptic? Or just in the groove?

London Telegraph ^ | 1-25-11 | Michael White

[Pharmboy]

Frédéric Chopin

Hot news today, of sorts: a team of Spanish medial researchers think that Chopin may have been an epileptic. And perhaps he was. His early death at 39 has never been explained, and that he had serious health problems is obvious. Maybe, along with tuberculosis and cystic fibrosis, epilepsy is a contender.

But without claiming the slightest medical expertise here, I’m not convinced by the medics’ argument that his recorded instances of apparent hallucination are proof of epileptic seizure.

The traditional explanation for these time-out moments has usually to do with the hypersensitivity of a romantic soul; and to talk in such terms is always suspect. But at the same time, there are (or at least were) such things as romantic souls; hypersensitivity among creative or performing artists isn’t exactly uncommon; and stepping out of time and/or reality in the process of performance does happen.

[Pharmboy]

Of medical/musical interest.

[Pharmboy]

Medical-musical ping; or, musical-medical ping. Whatever.

[Borges]

Never been explained? He died of Tuberculosis. I didn’t know there were any doubts.

[Pharmboy]

Indeed, that's what we always were told, and based on what I know about the history of that disease (it was often called consumption back then) that is what he died of. His long-term illness does not sound like epilepsy.

But for me, any reason to speak of the great Chopin is all right! (I'm going to put the ballades on right now...)

[CholeraJoe]

Just as easily could have been narcolepsy with hypnagogic hallucinations. REM sleep with vivid dreaming can begin in seconds in narcoleptics.

As far as his lung disease, Tb was rampant in the mid-1800’s. Anyone’s guess as to whether he also had CF.

[sitetest]

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[ModelBreaker]

“The traditional explanation for these time-out moments has usually to do with the hypersensitivity of a romantic soul; and to talk in such terms is always suspect.”

No it’s not. Every era has fads and poses. In his, sensitive artists were a fad. They posed as sensitive artists and acted out sensitive things. Quirks were explained that way.

Today, it would be explained by his agony over the extinction of polar bears or the “death of the Theatre” or some such nonsense and it would be just as silly.

[Pharmboy]

Hmmm...interesting point. I always ascribed his persona to the “sensitive gay type” but perhaps that is incorrect; he may not have been gay...

[Borges]

He wasn’t gay at all.

[Pharmboy]

Thanks for the corroboration...the George Sand thing colored my thinking. I thought it was a “marriage” of convenience a la Cole Porter’s.

[pallmallman]

Chopin was magnificent...epileptic or not!

[Pharmboy]

No argument here...he is in my top four...behind Bach, Beethoven and Mozart...he is usually downgraded to only top 20 by the experts because he (essentially) only wrote for the piano.

[Daffynition]

Chopin. Angelic.

[pallmallman]

And you know what...that dosen’t matter to me, whether he wrote full symphony’s or just for one in strument...he was an intimate, though powerful composer..something of a specialist I guess.

[Pharmboy]

I have been listening to the 4 ballades for 45 years now and have not tired of them. The last is my favorite.

[SunkenCiv]

For petit mal, look no further than Scarlatti — that wasn’t syncopation. ;’)