Did Sleep Apnea Afflict Johannes Brahms?
© Kerrin Leon White
His snoring, also, evoked consternation, at least in one friend assigned to share a hotel bedroom with Brahms. The singer George Henschel (1850-1934) knew Brahms well enough to expect no sleep that night. Sure enough, no sooner had Brahms blown out his candle, than Henschel heard "the most unearthly noises." Henschel fled to another room for the night and tried to sneak back before Brahms awakened, but without success. Brahms at once understood, and joked, "Why didn't you throw a boot at me?"
Other points, less diagnostic of OSA than consistent with it, included his thick neck and associated dislike of neckties or even collars. From a slender youth, he became obese by his mid-thirties, and by age 57 had trouble reaching over his belly for his keys. He was known for his depressed and irritable moods--one possible consequence of OSA--and shortly prior to his death (probably from pancreatic cancer) he may have suffered a stroke--yet another consequence.
Dr. Mitchell mentions other characteristics suggestive of OSA, which I omit for their potentially demeaning effect. Certain Brahms, a peer of Beethoven, which is to say one of the greatest composers of all time, deserves not ridicule but admiration for his success despite an affliction that can easily impair the mind and even disable.
Why then engage in such always questionable, retrospective diagnosis of a man long-dead? Though sometimes amusing, this account betrays a hidden, lifelong burden of suffering that Brahms had to overcome.
For one thing, the mere fact that he overcame the symptoms of his condition to create wonderful music deserves attention. Many people suffering from a variety of disabling medical conditions cannot envision themselves leading worthwhile lives. It is good for all of us to realize that some remarkable people--as just one example, the eminent physicist with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ("Lou Gehrig's Disease"), Stephen Hawking, stands out as a modern hero.
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