Maybe it's because I missed out on "Click go the shears" and instead grew up with Beethoven's music that this brings tears to my eyes. His "Ode to Joy" was adopted as the "Anthem of Europe" by the Council of Europe in 1972 and subsequently by the European Union.
And what an anthem it is! Beethoven's Ninth was at Tienamen Square in the Spring of 1989 during the student revolt. The same year, when the Berlin Wall came down, the Ninth was there to amplify the celebrations. Under the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile, women marched on torture prisons with the Ode To Joy as inspiration. And in Japan, the Ninth was there to repair and heal after the devastating Tsunami of 2011.
"Following The Ninth" is both inspirational and hard-hitting, and a testament of hope. It's enough to bring tears to your eyes!
Freude, schöner Götterfunken, Tochter aus Elysium, Wir betreten feuertrunken, Himmlische, dein Heiligtum! Deine Zauber binden wieder Was die Mode streng geteilt; Alle Menschen werden Brüder Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt. For help with the pronunciation, click here.
P.S.
Had the misfortune of growing up without Beethoven? Catch up here.
