Sheet Music: Ode to Joy

TitleOde to Joy
from Symphony No. 9 in D minor “Chorale”
Alternate titlesBeethoven's Ninth Symphony
Beethoven's 9th Symphony
Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
Opus numberOp. 125
ComposerLudwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
InstrumentationFlute solo
KeyD major
RangeA4–A5
Time signature2/2
Tempo144 BPM
Performance time0:30
Difficulty leveleasy
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (47 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (231 kB)
Date added2009-06-06
Last updated2009-06-06
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 4.2 (popular)
Categories
Classical, Symphonies, Wedding music

Performances

  • Heather — Flute with backing track.

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Saturday 6 June 2009

Tune of the Day: Ode to Joy

from Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor “Chorale”

Completed in 1824, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is one of the best known works of the Western classical repertoire, and is considered one of Beethoven's greatest masterpieces.

The symphony was the first example of a major composer using voices in a symphony. The words are sung during the final movement by four vocal soloists and a chorus. They were taken from the “Ode to Joy”, a poem written by Friedrich Schiller in 1785.

Oh friends, not these tones!
Let us raise our voices in more pleasing
And more joyful sounds!
Joy! Joy!

Believe it or not, Beethoven was completely deaf when he composed his ninth symphony. Not only that, but at the premiere he even shared the stage with the official director, giving the tempos, turning the pages of his score and beating time for an orchestra he could not hear. When at the end of the performance the audience applauded, Beethoven was several measures off and still conducting. Because of that, the contralto Caroline Unger walked over and turned Beethoven around to accept the audience's cheers and applause. The whole audience acclaimed him through standing ovations five times; there were handkerchiefs in the air, hats, raised hands, so that Beethoven, who could not hear the applause, could at least see the ovation gestures. The theater house had never seen such enthusiasm in applause.

Other Movements from the same Work

Ode to Joy Flute choir