Ode to Evolving Joy

 In the previous post I gave a link to Beethoven's ninth symphony. The fourth movement, which you can cue at minute 52:12 of the stream, begins with a dark and brooding introduction. By 55:30 the clouds part and the melody of the Ode to Joy shines through. 

Beethoven's ninth symphony - Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Riccardo Muti - 2014 -
 over 34 million views on Youtube, commercial free

At 59:30 vocal solos and chorus begin singing the poem by Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller in celebration of the unity of all mankind. 

O friends, no more of these sounds!
Let us sing more cheerful songs,
More songs full of joy!
Joy!
Joy!
Joy, bright spark of divinity,
Daughter of Elysium,
Fire-inspired we tread
Within thy sanctuary.
Thy magic power re-unites
All that custom has divided,
All men become brothers,
Under the sway of thy gentle wings.
...

Here is a link to the full text and some history.

What more is there to say? The poet and composer have said it all. Or have they, and did we listen? I wonder if the music is too military and the lyric too masculine for a message of inclusive unity and peace. Considering the two world wars that followed and ongoing conflicts and persecution of minorities, what we need is someone to turn the lyric into a hymn and the march into a dance, and a performance to get us clapping and lift us out of our seats so we forget war and get seriously joyful about living together. Well, guess what. We have Sister Act 2 with Lauryn Hill. (You will have to click past the ad at the beginning.  Over 59 million views. I'm going to add my own million. Where are my earphones?) 

En JOY.