Creativity and Mental Health

Hymns and arias: musical hallucinations in older people in Wales

“…Could repetitive musical exposure therefore be a risk factor for later musical hallucinations? The composers Glinka, Schumann and Beethoven had musical hallucinations (Gordon, 1996;2001). Although probably mediated by neurosyphillis could the relative frequency of hallucinations in composers also be a reflection of the risk of exposure?…”

The clinical spectrum of musical hallucinations

“…The first scientific descriptions were given by Petazzi in 1900 [13] and by Bryant in 1907 [14]. It has been debated whether musical hallucinations might be a source of creativity in composers [15]. This has been suggested for Joseph Haydn [16] and Gaetano Donizetti [17].…”

Musical Hallucinations and Forgotten Tunes – Case Report and Brief Literature Review

“…Warren et al reported the case of an 83-year-old musician who was able to notate her hallucinations – these motifs were not part of any known musical piece (17). The famous composers, Robert Schumann (1810–1856) and Bedrich Smetana (1824–1884), had attacks of vertigo and tinnitus with subsequent musical hallucinations (18). Schumann incorporated musical hallucinations on his Violin Concerto in D minor (19).…”