Ode to Joy

Ludwig van Beethoven wrote Ode to Joy (An de Freude in German) in 1824. He used some of the verses written by the poet Friedrich Schiller in 1785.

Beethoven included this tune in the fourth movement of his Ninth Symphony, which was the first symphony to include vocal scores: four soloists and a chorus. That's why it is also called th Choral Symphony. The lyrics, the same as Schiller's, addresses fellowship, hope and peace.

In 1972 The Council of Europe chose it to be the Anthem of Europe and in 1985 the European Union did the same. It doesn't include the lyrics but it was chosen because it conveys the ideals of unity among peoples. 

Would you like to see the original handwritten score? What about listening to different versions: hip-hop, techno, jingle, organ, etc.?