Ode to Joy Beethoven Ninth Symphony devotional song performed by Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra in 2008

An Ode to Joy was written in 1785 by Friedrich Schiller and used with musical composition by Ludwig Van Beethoven for a part of his ninth symphony (completed in 1824).

The song is a devotional song in German. Here's one rendering of it which has German lyrics followed by English translation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pbMUEHvoAo, 9 min. 26 secs. A few standout words and phrases:

Freude means Joy

Freude, schöner Götterfunken means Joy, beautiful spark of the gods

steht vor Gott means stand before God

'Deine Zauber binden wieder Was die Mode streng geteilt' means 'Your [Ravi: God's I guess] magic binds again What convention strictly divides'

'Alle Menschen werden Brüder Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt' means 'All people become brothers Where your [Ravi: God's I guess] gentle wing abides'

Here's the Seoul (South Korea) philharmonic orchestra in 2008, doing the same song lyrics version (as far as I could make out) as in the first video above:
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjc-NxtwV0k, 7 min 41 secs.
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT6-CHJDaf4, 10 min 13 secs.

Here's the wiki page of the song: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_to_Joy. I have copied below its Lyrics section:

"An die Freude""Ode to Joy"
Freude, schöner Götterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische, dein Heiligtum!
Deine Zauber binden wieder
Was die Mode streng geteilt*;
Alle Menschen werden Brüder*
Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt.

Wem der große Wurf gelungen
Eines Freundes Freund zu sein;
Wer ein holdes Weib errungen
Mische seinen Jubel ein!
Ja, wer auch nur eine Seele
Sein nennt auf dem Erdenrund!
Und wer's nie gekonnt, der stehle
Weinend sich aus diesem Bund!

Freude trinken alle Wesen
An den Brüsten der Natur;
Alle Guten, alle Bösen
Folgen ihrer Rosenspur.
Küsse gab sie uns und Reben,
Einen Freund, geprüft im Tod;
Wollust ward dem Wurm gegeben
und der Cherub steht vor Gott.

Froh, wie seine Sonnen fliegen
Durch des Himmels prächt'gen Plan
Laufet, Brüder, eure Bahn,
Freudig, wie ein Held zum siegen.

Seid umschlungen, Millionen!
Diesen Kuß der ganzen Welt!
Brüder, über'm Sternenzelt
Muß ein lieber Vater wohnen.
Ihr stürzt nieder, Millionen?
Ahnest du den Schöpfer, Welt?
Such' ihn über'm Sternenzelt!
Über Sternen muß er wohnen.
Joy, beautiful spark of the gods,
Daughter from Elysium,
We enter, drunk with fire,
Heavenly One, thy sanctuary!
Your magic binds again
What convention strictly divides;*
All people become brothers,*
Where your gentle wing abides.

Who has succeeded in the great attempt,
To be a friend's friend,
Whoever has won a lovely woman,
Add his to the jubilation!
Indeed, who calls even one soul
Theirs upon this world!
And whoever never managed, shall steal himself
Weeping away from this union!

All creatures drink of joy
At nature's breast.
Just and unjust
Alike taste of her gift;
She gave us kisses and the fruit of the vine,
A tried friend to the end.
[Even] the worm has been granted sensuality,
And the cherub stands before God!

Gladly, as His heavenly bodies fly
On their courses through the heavens,
Thus, brothers, you should run your race,
Joyful, like a hero going to conquest.

You millions, I embrace you.
This kiss is for all the world!
Brothers, above the starry canopy
There must dwell a loving Father.
Do you fall in worship, you millions?
World, do you know your creator?
Seek him in the heavens
Above the stars must He dwell.

--- end wiki extracts ---

A 2014 Flashmob (Germany) rendering of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a23945btJYw, 6 min. 31 secs.

A 2013 flashmob (Spain) rendering of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87qT5BOl2XU, 5 min. 40 secs.

From a movie on Beethoven having this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xkj0TeZeZuo, 13 min. 25 secs. Note that the hidden woman conductor appearing to guide Beethoven for his conducting of the orchestra, seems to be an invention of the movie. It seems that Beethoven was deaf at this time and did not hear his own symphony but historically (in truth) there was no woman conductor helping him in the performance.

[I thank wikipedia and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above extract from their website on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]

Comments

Archive

Show more