Comment — “When she is 90 she is gonna tell her grandkids, “when I was a kid you could get a whole orchestra to play Beethoven for a quarter.”
“Ode to Joy” is a poem written by German poet Friedrich Schiller in 1785. It was later set to music by Ludwig van Beethoven as the choral movement of his Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, commonly known as the “Choral Symphony.” Beethoven’s setting of “Ode to Joy” is one of the most famous and beloved pieces of classical music.
The poem celebrates the universal themes of unity, brotherhood, and the joy of living. It begins with the lines:
“Freude, schöner Götterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische, dein Heiligtum!”
Which can be translated as:
“Joy, beautiful spark of the gods,
Daughter of Elysium,
We enter, drunk with fire,
Heavenly one, your sanctuary!”
The poem continues to extol the virtues of joy and brotherhood, urging people to come together in harmony and celebrate life’s blessings. Beethoven’s musical setting of “Ode to Joy” is powerful and uplifting, with the famous choral melody expressing the poem’s themes with great emotional depth.
“Ode to Joy” has become a symbol of hope, unity, and humanity’s highest aspirations. It is often performed at important cultural and political events and has inspired countless people around the world with its message of joy and solidarity.