Ode to Joy

From Open Encyclopedia

"To Joy" (An die Freude in German, in English often familiarly called the Ode to Joy rather than To Joy) is an ode written in 1785 by the German poet and historian Friedrich Schiller, and known especially for its musical setting by Beethoven in the fourth and final movement of his Ninth Symphony, for four solo voices, chorus, and orchestra.

The Ode to Joy was adopted as Europe's anthem by the Council of Europe in 1972, with an official arrangement for orchestra written by Herbert von Karajan.

In 2003, the European Union chose Beethoven's music for the poem as the EU anthem, without German lyrics, because of the many different languages used within the European Union. Therefore, the EU anthem is in effect the Beethoven theme (or melody) rather than Schiller's poem, although its connection with the ideal of human brotherhood in the text is understood. This ideal is stated in much more universal terms in Beethoven's adaptation ("All men become brothers") than in Schiller's original, which states that "beggars become the brothers of princes."

Beethoven's music for the Ode to Joy was also adopted as a national anthem by the UDI regime of Rhodesia in 1974 (see Rise O Voices of Rhodesia).

Beethoven's theme is also the setting for the Christian hymn, Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee (or Hymn to Joy), a poem written in 1908 by Henry van Dyke (1852–1933).

Ode to Joy, with its German lyrics, was featured prominently in the 1971 film and 1962 book A Clockwork Orange.

Ode to Joy was also used at the Olympics, for victory ceremonies, as national anthem of the United Team of East and West Germany, at the 1956, 1960 and 1964 Summer Olympics.

Less famous musical settings of the poem were written by Franz Schubert (for voice and piano, 1815) and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (for solo singers, choir and orchestra in a Russian translation, 1865). Bright Eyes used the music from Ode to Joy on his song Road to Joy from the album I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning.

Image:Gnome-speakernotes.png	Beethoven's Ode to Joy (file info)
	A simplified version of Beethoven's setting of part of the poem, from his ninth symphony
	Problems listening to the file? See media help.

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Text

The following is the text of Schiller's poem, as modified in Beethoven's setting. Note that it is an excerpt from Schiller's original text, and that Beethoven has changed the order of some of the strophes. The original verses of Schiller are in parentheses and italics.

In German

Freude, schöner Götterfunken

Tochter aus Elysium,

Wir betreten feuertrunken,

Himmlische, dein Heiligtum!

Deine Zauber binden wieder

Was die Mode streng geteilt. (Original: Was der Mode Schwert geteilt)

Alle Menschen werden Brüder (Original: Bettler werden Fürstenbrüder)

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.

In English

Joy, beautiful spark of God,

Daughter of Elysium,

We enter, fire-drunk,

Heavenly one, your shrine.

Your magic reunites

What custom strictly parts. (Original: What custom's sword has parted)

All people become brothers (Original: Beggars become princes' brothers)

Where your gentle wing alights.

Whoever has succeeded in the great attempt

To be a friend to a friend;

Whoever has won a lovely woman

Mix in your joy!

Yes, who calls even one soul

His own on the earth's sphere!

And let whoever has never achieved this

Steal away crying from this group!

All beings drink joy

At the breasts of nature;

All the good, all the bad

Follow her trail of roses.

She gave us kisses and vines,

A friend, proven in death;

Great pleasure was given to the worm,

And the cherub stands before God.

Glad, like his suns fly

Through heaven's splendid plan,

Run, brothers, your race,

Joyful, like a hero to the victory.

Be embraced, millions!

This kiss to all the world!

Brothers, over the starry firmament

Must live a loving father.

Do you bow down, millions?

Do you sense the Creator, world?

Seek him beyond the starry firmament!

He must dwell beyond the stars.

A different version of the English translation (altered so as to make the words rhyme as much as possible) runs as follows:

Praise to Joy, the God-descended
Daughter of Elysium!
Ray of mirth and rapture blended,
Goddess, to thy shrine we come.
By thy magic is united
What stern Custom parted wide,
All mankind are brothers plighted
Where thy gentle wings abide.

Ye to whom the boon is measured,
Friend to be of faithful friend,
Who a wife has won and treasured,
To our strain your voices lend!
Yea, if any hold in keeping
Only one heart all his own,
Let him join us, or else weeping,
Steal from out our midst, unknown.

Draughts of joy, from cup o'erflowing,
Bounteous Nature freely gives
Grace to just and unjust showing,
Blessing everything that lives.
Wine she gave to us and kisses,
Loyal friend on life's steep road,
E'en the worm can feel life's blisses,
And the Seraph dwells with God.

Glad as the sun His will sent plying
Through the vast abyss of space.
Brothers run your joyous race,
Hero-like to conquest flying

O ye millions, I embrace ye!
With a kiss for all the world!
Brothers, o'er yon starry sphere
Surely dwells a loving Father.

O ye millions, kneel before Him,
World, dost feel thy Maker near?
Seek Him o'er yon starry sphere,
O'er the stars enthroned, adore Him!

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