Spes phthisica: the case of Frederic Chopin

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the influence of spes phthisica (consumptive euphoria) on creative process of Polish composer Frederic Chopin’s. The high productivity of the composer’s work during exacerbations of tuberculosis is often cited in the scientific literature as important evidence of the positive impact of spes phthisica on creativity. To test this hypothesis, an analysis analysis of the chronological relationship between Frederic Chopin’s creative process (professional history) and the clinical course of pulmonary tuberculosis (medical history) was performed. The main material for the study was the Frederic Chopin’s letters and the work of the composer’s most respected biographers. Scopus, WebOfScience, MedLine, PubMed electronic databases, electronic repositories, and archives were searched without limitations in time. It has been established that in the winter of 1838/1839 (while resting in Mallorca) Chopin suffered a severe exacerbation of chronic pulmonary tuberculosis, which was accompanied by pulmonary hemorrhage, severe intoxication and vivid signs of pathological euphoria (spes phthisica). Despite this, the composer published an incredibly large number of new musical pieces in the autumn of 1839: Op 35‑Op 41 (Sonata, Impromptu; Two Nocturnes; Ballade; Scherzo in three parts; Two Polonaises; Four Mazurkas). For a long time, many researchers attributed the composer’s high publishing activity to the stimulating effect of pathological euphoria. The analysis of the composer’s creative process in the winter of 1838/1839 showed that during this period he created only two small musical pieces Mazurka E‑minor Op 41 and «Raindrop» Prelude Op 28. A study of the circumstances of the creation of these works showed that they were not written by Chopin due to pathological euphoria, but rather the opposite — contrary to it. All other pieces were created by Chopin much earlier, and it was during the period of remission of tuberculosis. These rules out the possibility of the stimulating effect of spes phthisica on the composer’s creative process.