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| Ode to Joy | |
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A page of Beethoven's original manuscript.
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| Union Anthem of |  European Union Council of Europe |
| Also known as | European Anthem |
| Lyrics | None |
| Music | Ludwig van Beethoven, 1823 |
| Adopted | 1972 and 1985 |
Ode to Joy (German original title: "Ode an die Freude") is adopted as the anthem of the European Union and the Council of Europe. It is based on the final movement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony composed in 1823 and played on official occasions by both organisations.
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History
Origin
Friedrich Schiller wrote the poem An die Freude or To Joy in 1785. It expresses his idealistic vision of the human race becoming brothers (and sisters), and became the basis for the Ode to Joy movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's 9th Symphony.
Adoption
In 1971 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe decided to propose adopting the prelude to the Ode To Joy from Beethoven's 9th Symphony as the European anthem. The Council of European Ministers officially announced the European Anthem on January 19, 1972 at Strasbourg: the prelude to "The Ode to Joy", 4th movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's 9th symphony.
Conductor Herbert von Karajan was asked to write three instrumental arrangements – for solo piano, for wind instruments and for symphony orchestra and he conducted the performance used to make the official recording. He wrote his decisions on the score, notably those concerning the tempo. Karajan decided on crotchet = 120 whereas Beethoven had written minim = 80.
The anthem was launched via a major information campaign on Europe Day in 1972. In 1985, it was adopted by EU heads of State and government as the official anthem of the then European Community – since 1993 the European Union. It is not intended to replace the national anthems of the Member States but rather to celebrate the values they all share and their unity in diversity. It expresses the ideals of a united Europe: freedom, peace, and solidarity.[1]
Constitution
It was to have been included in the European Constitution along with the other European symbols, however the treaty failed ratification and was replaced by the Treaty of Lisbon which will not include any symbols. In response, the European Parliament decided it would make greater use of the anthem, for example at official occasions.[2]
Usage
Ode to Joy is the anthem of the Council of Europe and the European Union, promoted as a national symbol for the whole of Europe as are the other European symbols.
It is used on occasions such as Europe Day and formal events such as the signing of a EU treaty. The European Parliament seeks to make greater use of the music, Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering stated he was moved when the anthem was played for him on his visit to Israel and ought to be used in Europe more often.[2]
In 2008 it was used by Kosovo as its national anthem until it adopted its own, playing it at its declaration of independence, as a nod to the EU's role in its independence from Serbia.[3]
Unofficial lyrics
Due to the large number of languages used in the European Union, the anthem is purely instrumental and the German lyrics Friedrich Schiller wrote and Beethoven based the melody upon, have no official status.
However, several translations of the poem used by Beethoven as well as original works have attempted to provide lyrics to the anthem in various languages.
Recently, Latin, as a former lingua franca in many European countries, is the language of one proposal written by the Austrian composer Peter Roland.[4] The composer offered a copy of the anthem to Romano Prodi, then President of the European Commission during a meeting in Vienna in February 2004.[5] This event was criticized by British newspapers which thought it was a first step to the adoption of the text.[6]
Versions of the anthem including lyrics have been sung outside official EU occasions. This is the case of the Latin version sung by the a cappella choir Wiener Singverein.[7]
In France, several adaptations of Beethoven's Ode were known long before the onset of European Union. A version by the librettist Maurice Bouchor (1855-1929) entitled Hymn to the Universal Humanity (Hymne à l'universelle humanité) adding several verses to a preceding version of Jean Ruault, was published. This version and another by Maurice Bouchor, published with Julien Thiersot under the title Hymn for future times (Hymne des temps futurs) in a music book which was widespread among basic schools,[8] is performed unofficially by school choirs during European events. Another version by the Catholic writer Joseph Folliet (1903-1972) is also known.
Latin lyrics by Peter Roland
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German lyrics by Friedrich Schiller
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Media
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Ode to Joy Full symphonic version Ode to Joy Electric keyboard version of Ludwig van Beethoven's Ode to Joy, the centerpiece of his 9th Symphony - Problems playing the files? See media help.
See also
References
- ^ Emblemes Council of Europe
- ^ a b Beunderman, Mark (2007-07-11). MEPs defy member states on EU symbols. EU Observer. Retrieved on 2007-07-12.
- ^ Kosovo declares independence - USATODAY.com. USA Today (2008-02-17). Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
- ^ Hymnus Latinus Europae www.hymnus-europae.at
- ^ European Commission, "Get your facts straight", February 2004,[1]
- ^ EU fanatics want you to sing this dire anthem, The Sun, 3 February 2004, p. 6 et 8, quoted by the reference above and by the monthly press watch of the European Commission delegation in the UK: O friend, no more these sounds! Sun hits wrong note as a deaf ear turned to truth, Press watch no. 18, May 2004, [2].
- ^ Peter Roland (2003-10-05). CD-libellus. Est Europa Nunc Unita, Hymnus Latinus Europae. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
- ^ Chants populaires pour les écoles, librairie Hachette, published in several editions between 1902 and 1911
External links
- Beethoven's Ninth: A Political History, Esteban Buch (Trans. Richard Miller), ISBN 0-226-07824-8 (University Of Chicago Press)
- Delegation of the European Commission (mp3 available there)
- European anthem European NAvigator
- Inni d'Europa, Arma dei Carabinieri – a version performed by the Banda Musicale e delle Fanfare directed by Col. Vincenzo Borgia available for download (as well as other European anthems)
- The European Anthem and downloads – Council of Europe website
- The European Anthem – European Commission website
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