Ode to Joy

"To Joy" (German: An die Freude, first line: "Freude, schöner Götterfunken", in English often called Ode to Joy) is an ode written in 1785 by the German poet, playwright and historian Friedrich Schiller. The poem celebrates the ideal of unity and brotherhood of all mankind.

It is best known for its musical setting by Ludwig van Beethoven in the final movement of his Ninth Symphony (completed in 1824), a choral symphony for orchestra, four solo voices, and choir.

Other musical settings of the poem include:

• Johann Gottlieb Naumann (1786)
• Christian Gottfried Körner (1786)
• Johann Friedrich Reichardt (1796)
• Johann Friedrich Hugo von Dalberg (1799)
• Johann Rudolf Zumsteeg (1803)
• Franz Schubert's song "An die Freude" D 189 (1815), for voice and piano
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1865), for solo singers, choir and orchestra in a Russian translation
• "Seid umschlungen, Millionen!" (1892), waltz by Johann Strauss II
• Z. Randall Stroope (2002), for choir and four-hand piano

See also

• Anthem of Europe
• Rise O Voices of Rhodesia

Words written by Beethoven (not Schiller) are shown in italics.

   German original[8]

   English translation

   O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!
   Sondern laßt uns angenehmere anstimmen,
   und freudenvollere.
   Freude! Freude!

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

   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.

   Joy, beautiful spark of gods
   Daughter of Elysium,
   We enter drunk with fire,
   Heavenly one, your sanctuary!
   Your magic binds again
   What custom strictly divided.
   All men become brothers,
   Where your gentle wing rests.

   Wem der große Wurf gelungen,
   Eines Freundes Freund zu sein;
   Wer ein holdes Weib errungen,
   Mische seinen Jubel ein!
   Ja, wer auch nur eine Seele
   Sein nennt auf dem Erdenrund!
   Und wer's nie gekonnt, der stehle
   Weinend sich aus diesem Bund!

   Whoever has had the great fortune
   To be a friend's friend,
   Whoever has won a devoted wife,
   Join in our jubilation!
   Indeed, whoever can call even one soul,
   His own on this earth!
   And whoever was never able to, must creep
   Tearfully away from this band!

   Freude trinken alle Wesen
   An den Brüsten der Natur;
   Alle Guten, alle Bösen
   Folgen ihrer Rosenspur.
   Küße gab sie uns und Reben,
   Einen Freund, geprüft im Tod;
   Wollust ward dem Wurm gegeben,
   Und der Cherub steht vor Gott.

   Joy all creatures drink
   At the breasts of nature;
   All good, all bad
   Follow her trail of roses.
   Kisses she gave us, and wine,
   A friend, proven in death;
   Pleasure was to the worm given,
   And the cherub stands before God.

   Froh, wie seine Sonnen fliegen
   Durch des Himmels prächt'gen Plan,
   Laufet, Brüder, eure Bahn,
   Freudig, wie ein Held zum Siegen.

   Glad, as His suns fly
   Through the Heaven's glorious design,
   Run, brothers, your race,
   Joyful, as a hero to victory.

   Seid umschlungen, Millionen!
   Diesen Kuß der ganzen Welt!
   Brüder, über'm Sternenzelt
   Muss ein lieber Vater wohnen.
   Ihr stürzt nieder, Millionen?
   Ahnest du den Schöpfer, Welt?
   Such' ihn über'm Sternenzelt!
   Über Sternen muss er wohnen.

   Be embraced, millions!
   This kiss for the whole world!
   Brothers, above the starry canopy
   Must a loving Father dwell.
   Do you bow down, millions?
   Do you sense the Creator, world?
   Seek Him beyond the starry canopy!
   Beyond the stars must He dwell.

   Finale repeats the words:
   Seid umschlungen, Millionen!
   Diesen Kuß der ganzen Welt!
   Brüder, über'm Sternenzelt
   Muss ein lieber Vater wohnen.
   Seid umschlungen,
   Diesen Kuß der ganzen Welt!
   Freude, schöner Götterfunken
   Tochter aus Elysium,
   Freude, schöner Götterfunken

   Finale repeats the words:
   Be embraced, you millions!
   This kiss for the whole world!
   Brothers, beyond the star-canopy
   Must a loving Father dwell.
   Be embraced,
   This kiss for the whole world!
   Joy, beautiful spark of gods,
   Daughter of Elysium,
   Joy, beautiful spark of gods

External links

Wikisource has original text related to this article: Ode to Joy

• Schiller's ode "An die Freude" in its original, 1785 version with English translation
• Text in German, English, Dutch, French; list of musical settings
• A more stylized English translation

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