He eventually overcame his despair, but he was deeply changed by it. At that time Beethoven was completely deaf and had gone through self-isolation, depression and suicidal thoughts. It can be said that the composer put a piece of himself in his work: Beethoven struggled between opposites throughout his life, balancing creative independence against financial stability, or higher ideals against natural impulsiveness (did you know he changed more than 60 accommodations during the 35 years he lived in Vienna?). All previous symphonies are characterized by a contrast between two main themes, which usually portray two different forces. 9 is also Beethoven’s last finished symphony, and it’s substantially different from the eight that preceded it. Portrait of Friedrich Schiller by Ludovike Simanowiz. 9’s Ode to Joy fully reflects its composer’s mindset. Young Ludwig fell in love with the ideals of a higher morality, the sacredness of duty, and the conception of humans as free and rational individuals. Together with Schiller, the other main authors who influenced Beethoven are Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Immanuel Kant. Beethoven is usually remembered for his musical work, but what is less known about him is that he was a fervent idealist. The fact that Beethoven chose a text authored by Schiller isn’t a coincidence: the composer was indeed an admirer of the latter’s work as a philosopher. Funnily enough, even if the text was and still is well known and beloved by many, in later life Schiller expressed contempt for his work and dismissed it as typical «bad taste of the age». Beethoven actually used a posthumous revised version for writing his lyrics. Thirdly, “Ode to Joy” is also a poem written by Friedrich Schiller in 1785, whose original title is An die Freude (“To Joy” in German). Nevertheless, there are several unofficial adaptations in different languages in particular the Latin and Esperanto version aim to overcome the limits of national borders. When the Council of Europe decided to adopt it, though, it opted not to include the original lyrics, to avoid privileging a single European language, German, to the detriment of all others. Indeed, Beethoven himself put to music a poem that praises and wishes for freedom and peace between all peoples. It’s a tune about peace: Ode to Joy represents the triumph of universal brotherhood against war and desperation. Thirteen years later, in 1985, it became the official anthem of the European Community, and of its successor, the European Union.īut what exactly is the Ode to Joy? These are five key facts about Beethoven’s masterpiece.įirst of all, naturally, it’s a famous musical piece: the tune is the prelude to the fourth – and final – movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. The Ode to Joy was adopted by the Council of Europe as its anthem in 1972.
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