Guest, Van,

I remember an interview with Steve Reich where was comparing the work of Wagner with one of Wagner's contemporaries. I don't remember this other composer's name, but Reich said that he was known to be quite a compassionate humanitarian and very vocal against inequality and brutality in the world. And Wagner is known to have been quite the racist bigot and a thouroughly unpleasant human being. And Reich had trouble resolving himself to the fact that Wagner's work far outclassed the nicer composer's (to the point that I can't even recall the man's name).

So artistic merit by no means guarantees sensitivity and compassion. Picasso was famous for being a thorough bastard to all the women in his life. (he's not my favourite artist, but many critics consider him a genius).

Henry VIII was the quintessential Renaissance Man, by all accounts. I have no trouble believing he wrote several songs. He didn't like being left out of anything (hence his many wives).