Beethoven Ninth Symphony

[hoope]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Beethoven.jpg/250px-Beethoven.jpg

I wanted to share with you all the music that the world will never forget . The man that made music something different .
This is the Ninth Symphony ; one of his late works .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAOTCtW9v0M&feature=related


As violist Josef Bohm recalled: "Beethoven directed the piece himself; that is, he stood before the lectern and gesticulated furiously. At times he rose, at other times he shrank to the ground, he moved as if he wanted to play all the instruments himself and sing for the whole chorus. All the musicians minded his rhythm alone while playing".


" The whole audience acclaimed him through standing ovations five times; there were handkerchiefs in the air, hats, raised hands, so that Beethoven, who could not hear the applause, could at least see the ovation gestures. The theatre house had never seen such enthusiasm in applause"




German original

O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!
Sondern laßt uns angenehmere anstimmen,
und freudenvollere.
Freude! Freude!

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.

Finale repeats the words:
Seid umschlungen, Millionen!
Diesen Kuß der ganzen Welt!
Brüder, über'm Sternenzelt
Muss ein lieber Vater wohnen.
Seid umschlungen,
Diesen Kuß der ganzen Welt!
Freude, schöner Götterfunken
Tochter aus Elysium,
Freude, schöner Götterfunken.

English Translation :
Oh friends, not these tones!
Rather, let us raise our voices in more pleasing
And more joyful sounds!
Joy! Joy!

Joy, beautiful spark of divinity
Daughter of Elysium,
We enter, drunk with fire,
Into your heavenly sanctuary!
Your magic reunites
What custom strictly divided.
All men will become brothers,
Where your gentle wing rests.

Whoever has had the great fortune
To be a friend's friend,
Whoever has won a devoted wife,
Join in our jubilation!
Indeed, whoever can call even one soul,
His own on this earth!
And whoever was never able to, must creep
Tearfully away from this band!

Joy all creatures drink
At the breasts of nature;
All good, all bad
Follow her trail of roses.
Kisses she gave us, and wine,
A friend, proved in death;
Pleasure was to the worm given,
And the cherub stands before God.

Glad, as His suns fly
Through the Heaven's glorious design,
Run, brothers, your race,
Joyful, as a hero to victory.

Be embraced, millions!
This kiss for the whole world!
Brothers, above the starry canopy
Must a loving Father dwell.
Do you bow down, millions?
Do you sense the Creator, world?
Seek Him beyond the starry canopy!
Beyond the stars must He dwell


Finale repeats the words:
Be embraced, you millions!
This kiss for the whole world!
Brothers, beyond the star-canopy
Must a loving Father dwell.
Be embraced,
This kiss for the whole world!
Joy, beautiful spark of divinity,
Daughter of Elysium,
Joy, beautiful spark of divinity

[hoope]

More By Beethoven

Ninth Symphony but this is the chorals .. this is worth lisntening !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usXiHLPDtlU

Moonlight Sonata
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQVeaIHWWck&feature=related

Fifth Symphony

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2qW6fOtAMY

[DanielBenoit]

One of the finest works of art man has ever produced. There was a time in which I would listen to the Ninth every day, almost religiously. Of course there's almost uncountable works by Beethoven that deserve reccomendation, but I would like to mention the sublimity of the Moonlight Sonata, even beyond the popular Adagio sostenuto opening.

[Virgil]

Thank you Hoope. I do believe that is the single greatest symphony ever composed. Absolutely remarkable!

[stlukesguild]

While I have broadened my explorations of classical music with time, I continually return to the giants such as Beethoven. I quite agree that the Ninth is quite probably the greatest symphony ever composed. I must have 5 or 6 different recordings of it. It is an absolutely sublime work... from the very opening bars. A great many other composers certainly felt the same way. Brahms was so put aback by Beethoven's example that he avoided composing any symphony until he was well into 40s. The Ninth attained such a mythic status that there was eventually talk of the "curse of the Ninth". No great symphonic composer (later this was amended to no great German symphonic composer) it seems was able to get beyond nine symphonies. Beethoven's immediate heir, Franz Schubert, died after having completed nine symphonies and merely begun a tenth. (Perhaps the single greatest loss in music, by the way, among those who died too young. Considering his age, Schubert showed the potential to surpass Beethoven and perhaps even Mozart and Bach). Brahms only completed 4. Bruckner and Dvorak also wrote nine. Mahler became so obsessed with the perceived curse that after writing his Eighth Symphony, he entitled his next symphonic work Das Lied von der Erde. The structure of this work combining vocals and orchestra (not unlike Beethoven's Ninth) was little different from Mahler's symphonies. (Das Lied von der Erde, it might be noted, was clearly a death-obsessed piece). Following this, Mahler composed a Ninth Symphony and thought he had beaten the curse, but died with his Tenth Symphony incomplete.

[Basil]

Here are a series of video lectures by Harvard professor Thomas Kelly on Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. This link was posted on Litnet before--I'm pretty sure by Petrarch's Love--but I can't find the original post. So, credit goes to someone else. I found these lectures to be quite interesting, but I'm a complete novice to classical music; the experienced listener might not find it quite so rewarding.

http://athome.harvard.edu/programs/kelly/

[Lokasenna]

It is a beautiful piece, to be sure!

[hoope]

One of the finest works of art man has ever produced. There was a time in which I would listen to the Ninth every day, almost religiously. Of course there's almost uncountable works by Beethoven that deserve reccomendation, but I would like to mention the sublimity of the Moonlight Sonata, even beyond the popular Adagio sostenuto opening.

Oh Daniel ! I wasn't interested much in Beethoven... until i watched the movie about his life .. it touched me .. and then i read about his life .. its so touching ; especially when he got deaf.. and couldn't here them but he looked at the audience ! while i was posting i t.. i almost listenend to it for an hour >> may of his symphonies .


Thank you Hoope. I do believe that is the single greatest symphony ever composed. Absolutely remarkable!
Your Welcome Virgil.... Great Symphony for The great Beethoven



While I have broadened my explorations of classical music with time, I continually return to the giants such as Beethoven. I quite agree that the Ninth is quite probably the greatest symphony ever composed. I must have 5 or 6 different recordings of it. It is an absolutely sublime work... from the very opening bars. A great many other composers certainly felt the same way. Brahms was so put aback by Beethoven's example that he avoided composing any symphony until he was well into 40s. The Ninth attained such a mythic status that there was eventually talk of the "curse of the Ninth". No great symphonic composer (later this was amended to no great German symphonic composer) it seems was able to get beyond nine symphonies. Beethoven's immediate heir, Franz Schubert, died after having completed nine symphonies and merely begun a tenth. (Perhaps the single greatest loss in music, by the way, among those who died too young. Considering his age, Schubert showed the potential to surpass Beethoven and perhaps even Mozart and Bach). Brahms only completed 4. Bruckner and Dvorak also wrote nine. Mahler became so obsessed with the perceived curse that after writing his Eighth Symphony, he entitled his next symphonic work Das Lied von der Erde. The structure of this work combining vocals and orchestra (not unlike Beethoven's Ninth) was little different from Mahler's symphonies. (Das Lied von der Erde, it might be noted, was clearly a death-obsessed piece). Following this, Mahler composed a Ninth Symphony and thought he had beaten the curse, but died with his Tenth Symphony incomplete.
Thank you stlukesguild for your comment and the information you added- Since you know more than i do .... I wonder why always great people tried to abandone the people and leave... Though i know he was getting deaf and couldn't handle everything ; people still wanted him to his ols music ; but he chose to play his ! Many people don't appreciate such talented people not only Beethoven.. but many other scientist or scholars !!!


Here are a series of video lectures by Harvard professor Thomas Kelly on Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. This link was posted on Litnet before--I'm pretty sure by Petrarch's Love--but I can't find the original post. So, credit goes to someone else. I found these lectures to be quite interesting, but I'm a complete novice to classical music; the experienced listener might not find it quite so rewarding.

http://athome.harvard.edu/programs/kelly/
Oh Basil .. i am checking the site you gave .. its really nice - Don't know why i didn't find it while googling ? :)


It is a beautiful piece, to be sure!
Lokasenna ! am glad you liked it :)