Grade: 5
Duration: 9:30
 
Beethoven’s 9th and final symphony is regarded by many as his greatest work. It is one of the best-known pieces in the world and one of the most recognizable melodies. The words that are sung during the final movement were taken from “Ode to Joy” a poem written by Friedrich Schiller in 1785. Later this melody has been adapted into the hymn “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” which is commonly sung in churches around the world.
 
This piece explores a wide array of variations on this highly recognizable melody. In the initial introduction, the theme is only delicately referenced, in a haunting and mysterious hint of the hymn that would eventually surface in a more recognizable fashion later in the piece. There are a variety of instrument combinations that are explored, as well as a variety of textures, styles, and moods. There are also a number rhythmic variations of the melody utilized throughout the piece, ranging from playful to intense, until leading ultimately to the full statement of the hymn in a grand and glorious setting building to a climactic ending.