One only has to listen to the music of Ludwig van Beethoven (pictured) to know that this is a man who lived life through his music. Beethoven admitted that this was due to the chronic debilitating disease that afflicted him most of his adult life and eventually left him completely deaf.
     I've never cared much for classical music. Mozart is too melodic, Bach is funeral music, and opera is incomprehensible to me (why don't they sing in English!). But I can listen and be enraptured by Beethoven anytime. This is music of power and depth, the musical equivelant of a mighty mountain range or a great labyrinth of caves. From the omnipotent Ninth Symphony to the more mellow but no less powerful Promethean Overture Beethoven is unquestionably among the great composers and musicians man has ever known.

      Everything you would ever want to know about Beethoven may be found at A comprehensive Beethoven web site
      I found the Article about the Ninth Symphony to be most interesting.