Listening with the Body: Evelyn Glennie

Evelyn Glennie is an internationally renowned solo percussionist and Grammy Award winner. She has played in major orchestras around the world and held many concerts.

The one surprising fact about Evelyn Glennie is that she is Deaf.

Glennie began losing her hearing at a young age and was diagnosed as deaf when twelve. However, instead of giving up music, she decided to continue her journey.

Evelyn Glennie’s story closely parallels that of Beethoven: both musicians experienced severe hearing loss, yet both continued their musical journey.

Like Beethoven, Glennie relies on vibrations to perform. Unlike Beethoven, who utilized a rod to feel sound through his jaw, Glennie oftentimes performs barefoot to sense vibrations through the stage. By striking a drum and placing it on different surfaces—beds, tables, grass, etc.—Glennie realized that rhythm, pitch, dynamics, and even textures can be felt through the body.

Both artists overcame personal struggles and transformed them into artistic power. Just like Beethoven, who composed numerous masterpieces while being deaf, Glennie has also established an international musical career, once again proving that music is not limited to hearing.