October 4, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Friday, October 4.
At about this time 200 years ago, Ludwig van Beethoven began writing what would turn out to be the last great work of his legendary career - his Ninth Symphony. It premiered in Vienna in 1824, three years before his death. Beethoven had not been on a stage for 12 years and, by this time, was almost completely deaf. The orchestra was the largest he had ever used, one of the largest ever assembled. And the final movement, for the first time in the history of the symphony, featured a choir. The "Choral Symphony" is regarded as one of Beethoven's greatest creations and ranks among the most highly regarded musical pieces of all time.
Beethoven was on stage at the premiere, but so was the orchestra's conductor, who had given the players strict instructions to ignore any directions that the old maestro might give. The orchestra looked only to the conductor as Beethoven gestured wildly out of tempo. Famously, at the close of the piece, and as the audience rose with thunderous applause, the deaf master was facing the orchestra and completely unaware of the ovation. The alto soloist, 20-year-old Caroline Unger, took Beethoven by the arm and gently turned him around to receive his adulation.
The choir, in the final movement, sings words from a poem by the German poet, Schiller, titled "Ode to Joy". One oft repeated phrase which captures the spirit of the piece is "alle menschen werden Bruner" - all men shall become brothers. Over the centuries, the Ninth has been played to commemorate great moments of human endeavor. In the year 1989 alone, it was conducted by Leonard Bernstein to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall and was broadcast by Chinese students as they protested in Tiananmen Square.
I had the opportunity to sing Beethoven's Ninth in 1984 with the Houston Symphony Chorus. It remains one of the most memorable musical moments of my life. But I've also had the chance to sing this immortal tune on many Sunday mornings, as have you. In 1907, the great composer's melody was used to accompany lyrics of transcendent praise. Sing them again today!
Joyful, joyful we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!
Meet you back here on Monday,
Bro. David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
