Freude, schöner Götterfunken, Tochter aus Elysium...” Beethoven's Ninth Symphony premiered on this day in 1824, in Vienna. Some of us remember when the NBC evening news ended with the scherzo of the Ninth. I didn't realize that the symphony is considered revolutionary in the symphonic form because the four movements are each coherent pieces on their own. The use of timpani at the beginning of the scherzo, and their tuning at the interval of an octave, were among the symphony's other innovations. Interestingly, some of the choral writing has been criticized as awkward, as Verdi noted--but as Verdi also noted, it's Beethoven, so it's hard to fuss. The humanitarian message and joyful delivery of the chorus
Seid umschlungen, Millionen!
Diesen Kuß der ganzen Welt!
Brüder, über’m Sternenzelt
Muß ein lieber Vater wohnen.
Be embraced, Millions!
This kiss to all the world!
Brothers, above the starry canopy
There must dwell a loving Father.
have made the symphony a perennial anthem and piece of celebration.
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