Symphony No. 9 (a.k.a. Ode To Joy)

Beethoven had already drawn sketches for another symphony in 1812 while working on the 7th and 8th. Later this was changed to a pair of symphonies, one with an instrumental final, the other with a vocal one in German. Finally both projects were amalgamated. The text that stimulated him, Beethoven had discovered in 1793 in Schiller´s “Ode to Joy.”
Beethoven started composing the 9th in 1822 and had the work finished early in 1824. The first performance took place on 7. May 1824 in the Kärntnertortheater in Vienna to a full house. Though Beethoven had been totally deaf for several years he insisted on being co-conductor besides the theatre´s bandmaster Ignaz Umlauf. The result was that he was still conducting at the end while the audience was already applauding. Nevertheless the premiere was enormously successful. One of the singers walked over to Beethoven and forcibly turned him around to accept the audience´s cheers and applause. According to witnesses he received five standing ovations, the theatre had never seen such enthusiasm before. Beethoven left the house deeply moved. The occasion had indeed been an "Ode To Joy".

The 9th Symphony (a.k.a. Ode To Joy) consists of four movements.

First movement Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
Beethoven was very reluctant to mark something “maestoso” (majestic); it is almost as if he had saved it for this his last symphony. The addition “un poco” (a little) seems like an understatement to some music critics, as they see an interpretation of the power of destiny itself in this movement, after portraying the fight with destiny in the first movement of the 5th Symphony. They hear the elemental force of the divine sublimity, flashes are seen on a horizon full of thunder. Robert Schumann said in 1835: This symphony portrays the creation of mankind in its 1st movement – chaos at the beginning – and then God said: “Let there be light” – now the sun rises above the first human beings, who take delight in such glory and splendour.

Second movement Molto vivace
Although it is not written on the score this movement is a scherzo. It is frequently linked to the burlesque and bacchanal – Beethoven had the idea of composing a Bacchus-opera in 1815. He did not perceive Bacchus only as the god of wine but with his Greek name Dionysus rather as a representative of culture, who encouraged performances of music and poetry at his parties. One can interpret this scherzo as an answer to the irreversible course of the cosmos, a tragedy depicted in the first movement, followed by a satyr play of a bacchanal kind.

Third movement Adagio molto e cantabile
Music that is gentler and more delicate follows the “orgiastic frenzy”. The adagio is a deeply moving and lyrical slow movement; extrovertness has turned into introvertness.

Fourth movement Presto (with four solo singers and choir - tis section includes the famous "Ode To Joy")
The introduction of this vocal part of the symphony caused Beethoven headaches. He intended to find an appropriate way of introducing Schiller´s “Ode to Joy.” One day he entered the room and shouted: “I got it”, said his friend Anton Schindler. “Let us sing the ode of the immortal Schiller!” But that was not to be the introduction, it is rather like this:
Oh friends, not these tones!
Let us raise our voices in more
Pleasing and more joyful sounds!
The melody of joy is heading towards triumph in its brilliant simplicity in this movement, first by the cellos and double basses. then the choir, representing mankind and the soloists take Schiller´s verses into a culminating “Be embraced, Millions”. Beethoven´s choice of verses makes it clear that he strives for happiness on earth, for fraternity and for harmony with nature, for a new and better age. “Elysium”, Home of Joy, is the praised land of the future which mankind has to find in a long process of dawning of consciousness and maturity. Imagine once more the final applause and its creator – isolated, not hearing anything, seeing nothing because of over-excitement and suffering from afflictions – who has succeeded in creating a hymn in “pleasant and joyful” tones, which, in the course of history has become a national anthem for mankind.

The official name of the symphony is “Symphony No. 9 in D-minor, opus 125” (and not "Ode To Joy). It is one of the best known and most famous works of European classical music and is regarded as one of Beethoven´s greatest masterpieces. Recommended recordings are those of Karajan 1963 and 1976, Fritz Rainer, Leonard Bernstein, George Szell and John E. Gardiner.
The music of the symphony has been used numerous times in films, on television and in popular music. During the second half of the 20th century the 4th movement was played at the ceremonial part of several Olympic Games. Especially in Japan this music is deeply rooted; it is played everywhere in December to celebrate the beginning of the New Year. The melody for “Joy, beautiful radiance of gods” was declared to be the European anthem by the European Union.

In the box below you will be able to preview our String Orchestra arrangements of Symphony No. 9, final movement. Please note that if you buy the full score of Symphony No. 9, final movement, the individual parts are included in your purchase. Each individual instrument will have multiple copies of their scores printed as indicated. For your convenience you will be able to preview the full score of our String Orchestra arrangement as well as the individual parts. We offer two types of music tracks in MP3 format to complement your musical experience. Most of the tracks you will find are play-alongs, which consist of all the accompanying instruments. Where possible we also offer “full versions” of these recordings, consisting of the full recording of the score including all parts. Hold your mouse over the MP3 logo to get a full description. DynSentE4a.