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L. van Beethoven, 9th Symphony |
 The Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 is the last complete symphony composed by Ludwig van Beethoven. Completed in 1824, it includes part of the Ode An die Freude ("Ode To Joy") by Friedrich Schiller, with text sung by soloists and a chorus in the last movement. It is the first example of a major composer using the human voice on the same level with instruments in a symphony.
The official name is: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, opus 125. The symphony is sometimes referred to as "Choral", pointing to the vocal end of the symphony. Beethoven had wanted to set Schiller's 'Ode to Joy' to music for many years, and in fact later stated that he had wished to write an alternative instrumental ending to the Ninth Symphony, leaving an interpretation of the 'Ode to Joy' as a separate work.
This symphony is one of the best known of all works of European classical music, and is considered one of Beethoven's greatest masterpieces, composed while he was completely deaf. It plays a prominent cultural role in modern society.
In particular, the music from the fourth movement (Ode to Joy) is used as the official anthem of the European Union (the German lyrics have no official status). Further testament to its prominence is that an original manuscript of this work sold in 2003 for 3.3 million dollars. Due to the universal appeal of this symphony, it is now part of the UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.
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