Joy, beautiful spark
Daughter from Elysium,
magic together

Adapted from the 1st stanza of Schiller’s Ode to Joy.

200 years ago today, The Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, a choral symphony, the final complete symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven, composed between 1822 and 1824, was first performed in Vienna.

According to Wikipedia, “Although the performance was officially directed by Michael Umlauf, the theatre’s Kapellmeister, Beethoven shared the stage with him. However, two years earlier, Umlauf had watched as the composer’s attempt to conduct a dress rehearsal for a revision of his opera Fidelio ended in disaster. So this time, he instructed the singers and musicians to ignore the almost completely deaf Beethoven. At the beginning of every part, Beethoven, who sat by the stage, gave the tempos. He was turning the pages of his score and beating time for an orchestra he could not hear.”

Before ever I had heard this piece of music I had read these comic strips.

They first ran in newspapers in 1957 but as a kid, I read them in a book of Peanuts comic strips that I found on a shelf in our house.

Though I wasn’t even 10 years old, I caught the imagery of the scene and I asked my Dad or Mom what it was all about.

I think my Mom gave me a short thumbnail sketch of the life of Mr. Beethoven and that he was deaf.

I remember thinking that it is was fascinating that music might give someone chills and I asked my Dad if we had this piece of music.

He found a record and played it for me and I think I grabbed a jacket in case I got chills which he thought was pretty funny.

I also checked out Mr. Beethoven at the library and found that the story told in the last panel, that Beethoven was there when the piece debuted and didn’t know that the audience was cheering until some one turned him around, was, if not true, was true enough of what happened that night.

Growing up in my family, my Mom and Dad provided a home filled with music.

We had a piano and an organ that would have been at home in Wrigley Field.

(I would often catch my Dad playing the Star Spangled Banner and knew he was pretending to be playing at a ball game … not that he would admit it)

There were two record players, my Dad’s which we were not supposed to touch and another one out on counter top that we all had access to.

That counter top ran the length the Living Room and it was buried in stacks and stacks of LP records.

We were all encouraged to take up a musical instrument but I found out that my lack of rhythm meant I would never play an instrument or sing.

Instead I just listened.

I remember once in third grade, the Grand Rapids Public School Music Teacher (who came once a month) played the class a Charles Ives modern classical piece that was supposed to be a scene in his life where two bands passed each other in a parade and what that sounded like.

I raised my hand and asked if Charles Ives could hear?

The Music Teacher kinda squinted at me and answered, “Yes”, she was sure Mr. Ives could hear.

To which I replied, “And he wrote THAT and Beethoven was deaf and wrote all those symphonies.”

The Music Teacher stared at me, I was 10, with a cropped haircut, brand new brown plastic glassed and my front tooth had just been chipped off in half.

I sure looked the part.

She looked over at my 3rd grade teacher who just shrugged as if to say, ‘Don’t ask me.”

And the Music Teacher went on with her lesson.

It was one of those days when my drummer was beating a different tune really loud.

But I digress.

200 years ago.

No one knows really but I think that scene in the movie, Immortal Beloved, on the life of Mr. Beethoven, might not look like the debut of the 9th Symphony really did, but I bet it captures the mood.

200 Years ago tonight and the world heard a new sound.

Before that night no one had heard the signature melody that also become the hymn, Joyful, Joyful, we adore thee …

Hard to imagine.

More than 50 years late, I still find it all fascinating.

Here are the lyrics in English …

O friends, not these tones!
But let’s strike up more agreeable ones,
And more joyful.

Joy!
Joy!

Joy, beautiful spark of Divinity,
Daughter of Elysium,
We enter, drunk with fire,
Heavenly one, thy sanctuary!
Thy magic binds again
What custom strictly divided;
All people become brothers,
Where thy gentle wing abides.

Whoever has succeeded in the great attempt,
To be a friend’s friend,
Whoever has won a lovely woman,
Add his to the jubilation!
Yes, and also whoever has just one soul
To call his own in this world!
And he who never managed it should slink
Weeping from this union!

All creatures drink of joy
At nature’s breasts.
All the Just, all the Evil
Follow her trail of roses.
Kisses she gave us and grapevines,
A friend, proven in death.
Ecstasy was given to the worm
And the cherub stands before God.

Gladly, as His suns fly
through the heavens’ grand plan
Go on, brothers, your way,
Joyful, like a hero to victory.

Be embraced, Millions!
This kiss to all the world!
Brothers, above the starry canopy
There must dwell a loving Father.
Are you collapsing, millions?
Do you sense the creator, world?
Seek him above the starry canopy!
Above stars must He dwell