The Musical Hair
A lock of hair snipped directly from Ludwig Von Beethoven’s cranky head will be exhibited in San Jose in late October at the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies. The event is mounted in cooperation with the San Jose Jewish Film Festival.
How does a 179-year-old lock of hair know the way to San Jose?
The lock of Beethoven’s hair was cut by music composer Ferdinand Hiller, who sealed the hair in an airtight container. Upon his death in 1885, Hiller — who was Jewish — bequeathed the hair to his son, and the hair remained in the Hiller family. It is believed one or more of the Hillers later escaped Nazi Germany during World War II, and brought the hair to Denmark. Once there, the hair was later passed to a trusted local doctor during the course of a Nazi roundup of Jews in Denmark.
Eventually in 1994, the 582 strands of Beethoven’s brown, silver and white hair found their way to a Sotheby’s auction, where they were acquired by San Jose resident Ira Brilliant and his friend, Arizona physician Alfredo “Che” Guevara. The majority of the strands of hair — 422 to be exact — were donated to the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies. Subsequent DNA tests of the hair indicated that Beethoven likely died of lead poisoning, thus clarifying the once-mysterious circumstances surrounding his death.
It is believed that the hair was the source of Beethoven’s tremendous strength, and cutting it killed him. Okay, that’s a myth about another person but you know, whatever.
Russell Martin, the author of a book called BEETHOVEN’S HAIR will be attending the event and signing copies. A documentary of the same name, based on the book, will play the festival as well.
No word on how they are doing with that Humectress sponsorship.