Beethoven, Symphony 9, 4th movement (complete) Ode to Joy, Presto, Philharmonia Baroque

The final movement of Beethoven's last symphony, performed by the Philharmonia Baroque orchestra, directed by Nicholas McGegan.
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Q: Who are the performers?
A: The chorus includes members of three choirs: the Philharmonia Chorale, directed by Bruce Lamott, San Francisco Choral Artists, directed by Magen Solomon, and the U. C. Berkeley Chamber Chorus, directed by Marika Kuzma. The soloists are soprano Lynne Dawson, mezzo-soprano Mary Phillips, tenor Iain Paton, and baritone Andrew Foster-Williams.

Q: Where can I get this recording?
A: Here:
The liner notes for the album containing this recording are here:

Q: What do the shapes mean?
A: In this graphical score, the notes of the string instruments are shown as rhombi, the brass and winds are colored rectangles, the percussion instruments are gray (from top to bottom: triangle, cymbals, timpani, bass drum), and the vocal parts are ellipses.

Q: Could you please do a video of ______?
A: Please read this:

[Sebastian-ufvr]

On May 7, 1824, Ludwig van Beethoven premiered his 9th and last symphony called Chorale, in Vienna. Here we are, today May 7, 2024, some 200 years later, God Bless Ludwig, and what would be the most powerful, spiritual and brutal musical work taught to the world. But if that were not enough, every time in my life that I lose my reason, my conscience, the motivation to even live, I can never help but hear the Ode to Joy echoing. And although I don't express it, I always break into tears of happiness remembering every word and every letter that the choir makes great.

[shkodranalbi]

This piece of music makes life worth living

[markusokellius]

Beethoven was the only one to hear this. The rest of us are merely listening.

[jamiebergamasco]

"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy."

- Ludwig van Beethoven

[Steelstriker]

23 minutes. This piece of music is a full 23 minutes long and it uses all of it to enthrall the listener. Every section of the symphony is utilized to paint a picture of beauty in the mind. Truly, this is what music is for.

[BobDylan]

That bassoon that gently supports the strings 3:12 is one of my favourite moments in all of music.

[leonhardeuler]

22:00 is 13:51 but (four times?) faster (diminution)
***The violins in 23:08 play the ode to joy theme two times faster creating a diminution stretto. cello do the same in 22:43
5:32 is expanded to 19:45

Its hard to see these strokes of genius in such a dense and complex piece
Edit: I might as well mention other things ive noticed:

11:10 BOTH themes of the double fugue is derived from the ode to joy theme; one is from the march that directly preseeds it and the other is the ode to joy in diminution. The only other example I know of this is the grosse fuge
11:28 Stretto of the last portion of the marched ode to joy theme
11:38 Stretto of diminution theme, 11:52 Even closer stretto of same theme, 12:00 Amazing stetto. 12:07 Changes the tonic with use of sf

19:39 Canon based on ode to joy theme

19:51 Second canon based on ode to joy

**** 20:01 Interesting canon in 4 parts (in the voices) on two separate but related themes. Not entirely strict (see next sentence), Basses follow soprano distance of 4 measures, alto follows tenor in 4 measures. Although at first alto leads (ahead of tenor) causing illusion of canon at the distance of one measure. Look at the score, its confusing to explain. Its related to 22:15 i think, needs more studying on my part.

9:21 Clear reference to the 3rd movement of the ninth in its coda (I can post a link to the exact spot if you want)

12:30 Clear reference to the 1st movement of the ninth, the recapitulation with the roaring d major chord (look at the cellos).

0:00 Could be a reference to the fanfare at the end of the third movement, similar contour, same instrumentation

*The accelerando is FILLED with references to previous seemingly less important motifs.* 4:22

[janmn]

Today 7th may 2024 this magnificient piece of art wich has given us a lot of moments plenty of joy, celebrates it's 200 years of existence, and may stand a lot more.

[stupidyutube]

I am a total musical lay-person but this always really gets to me. Not as if it's some relic from 200 years ago but in a way that is as applicable to modern-day life as it was then. As it perhaps has always been for human beings. He is talking about the ecstasy of the phenomenon of being able to experience joy.

[neeltheother]

This is Beethoven at his most visceral and celebratory. Happy 250th everyone!

[DaleHusband]

This is the single GREATEST musical work of all time, and I will affirm that forever!!!

It's incredible that a single man could have created such divine master piece. Beethoven wasn't human.

[shkodranalbi]

GENIUS.  Listening to this, is like mounting the stairs to Heaven.
Danke, Ludwig.

[orionsuniversepart]

0:54 The Cellos: “STOP! We’ve performed that already! We need something else.”
The woodwind instruments: “Can we do the ‘scherzo’ from the second movement?”
The Cellos: “Certainly not! We need more feel. Is there any suggestions?”
The woodwinds: “Let’s try the adagio from the 3rd movement. It has some feel to it. It’s like-“
(Interruption) The Cellos: “All of these have no use anymore.”
(Some clamoring going on)
The Cellos: “Okay, hey guys! Settle down!”
The Oboes: “Wait! I got it! Let’s try Friedrich Schiller’s ‘Ode to Joy!’”
The Cellos: “Hey! That’s a good idea! But I go first!”
The Oboes: “Can’t we go first?”
The Cellos: “No. This is a build up, starting with us first, and then everyone else can come along.”
The Oboes: “Alright. You go first.”
The Strings and Woodwinds: “Let’s go!”
(Ode to Joy plays for the rest of the movement)

[nielsliljedahlchristensen]

It's funny how 200 years later, nothing as good as this has been made since

[bblancobrnx]

over 200 thumbs down? wtf is the world coming to? this is BEETHOVEN'S NINTH for goodness sakes

[mochimochi]

9:37 sing along:

Froh,
Froh, wie seine sonnen
seine sonnen fliegen
Froh, wie seine sonnen fliegen
Durch das himmels praecht'gen plan,
Laufet, brueder, eure bahn,
Laufet, brueder, eure bahn,
Freudig wie ein held zum siegen,
wie ein held zum siegen,
Laufet, brueder, eure bahn,

[Mrxmm]

It takes a great deal to draw me to tears, but the first time I have heard this masterpiece I nearly cried. Easily one of the greatest compositions in the history of mankind. 

[borisc]

In my not so humble opinion, if I may so bold to say, there only three periods in music: 1. before Beethoven's Ninth Symphony; 2. Beethoven's Ninth Symphony; 3. After Beethoven's Ninth Symphony... I do not say that Masterpieces did not exist before or after, but this symphony is Summit of the best of the best music ever written!

[MichaelMagill]

Once you start listening...
Just be prepared to be strapped to your seat for 23 minutes.