Anthem of Europe

History

Friedrich Schiller wrote the poem “ An die Freude “ („To Joy“) in 1785 as a „celebration of the brotherhood of man“. ^[3] In later life, the poet was contemptuous of this popularity and dismissed the poem as typical of „the bad taste of the age“ in which it had been written. ^[4] After Schiller’s death, the poem Provided the words for the choral movement of Beethoven ’s 9th Symphony .

In 1971 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Decided to propose Adopting the prelude to the „Ode to Joy“ from Beethoven ’s 9th Symphony as the European anthem, Taking up a suggestion made by Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi in 1955. ^{[5 ]} Beethoven was the natural choice for a European anthem. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe is officially announced at the European Anthem on 19 January 1972 at Strasbourg: the prelude to „Ode to Joy“, 4th movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s 9th symphony. In 1974 the same piece of music was adopted asnational anthem of the unrecognized state of Rhodesia.

Conductor Herbert von Karajan was asked to write three instrumental arrangements – for solo piano, for wind instruments and for symphony orchestra and he conducted the performance. He wrote his decisions on the score, particularly those concerning the tempo. Karajan decided on low (half note) = 80 Beethoven had written crotchet (quarter note) = 120.

The event was launched on a major news campaign on Europe Day in 1972. In 1985, it was adopted by EU Heads of State and Government as the official anthem of the European Community – since 1993 the European Union. It is not intended to replace the national anthems of the member states but rather to celebrate the values ​​they all share and their unity in diversity. It expresses the ideas of a united Europe: freedom, peace, and solidarity. ^[6]

It has been included in the European Constitution along with the other European symbols ; however, the treaty failed ratification and was replaced by the Treaty of Lisbon , which does not include any symbols. ^[7] A declaration was attached to the treaty, in which sixteen member states formally recognized the proposed symbols. ^[8] In response, the European Parliament decided that it would make greater use of the anthem, for example at official occasions. ^[7] In October 2008, the Parliament changed its rules of procedure to the anthem played at the opening of Parliament after elections and at formal sittings. ^[9]

Usage

„Ode to Joy“ is the anthem of the Council of Europe and the European Union , Promoted as a symbol for the whole of Europe as are the other European symbols . It is used on occasions such as Europe and the signing of treaties. The European Parliament seeks to make Greater use of the music, then- Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering Stated He Was Moved When the anthem played for _him_ Was On His visit to Israel and Ought To be used in Europe more often. ^[7]

In 2008 it was used by Kosovo as its national anthem until it was adopted, and it was played on its declaration of independence , as a nod to the EU’s role in its independence from Serbia. ^[10]

At the 2007 signing ceremony for the Treaty of Lisbon , the plenipotentiaries of the European Union’s twenty-seven member states stood in front of the „Ode to Joy“ was played by 26 Portuguese children sang the original German lyrics. ^[11]

The German public radio station Deutschlandfunk has broadcast the anthem together with the Deutschlandlied shortly before midnight since New Year’s Eve 2006. The two anthems are specially recorded by the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra in versions characterized by „modesty and intensity“. ^[12]

In 1992 the CIS national football team at the 1992 UEFA European Football Championship .

On October 4, 2010, the team was presented to the team of the United States of America to win the Ryder Cup golf tournament. The European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie . It was similarly employed at the 2014 Ryder Cup prizegiving ceremony on 28 September, after Europe had beaten America under its captain, Paul McGinley .

„Ode to Joy“ is used as the theme for the 2016 UEFA Euro qualifying and the European qualifying of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football competition at the introduction of every match. ^[13]

„Ode to Joy“, automatically orchestrated in seven different styles, has been used on 18 June 2015 during the ceremony celebrating the 5000th ERC grantee as anthem of the European Research Council to represent achievements of European research. ^[14]

In 2017, Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from the Scottish National Party first whistled and then sang „Ode to Joy“ at the House of Commons to protest against the Brexit referendum. ^[15]

Unofficial lyrics

Due to the large number of languages ​​used in the European Union, the anthem is purely instrumental, and the German lyrics that Friedrich Schiller wrote and wrote on the subject . Despite this, the German lyrics are often sung by choirs or ordinary people when the anthem is played: for example, at the 2004 enlargement on the German-Polish border , the crowd watching the ceremony playing the blood music along with the German lyrics.

Aside from this, several translations of the poem used by Beethoven. Versions of the anthem including lyrics have been sung outside official EU occasions.

In France, several adaptations of Beethoven’s composition have been known long before the onset of European Union. A release by the librettist Maurice Bouchor (1855-1929) Entitled Hymn to Universal Humanity ( Hymn to humanity universal ) Adding Several verses to a PRECEDING release of Jean Ruault, Was published. This release Reviews and another by Maurice Bouchor, published with Julien Thiersot sous le titre Hymn for future times ( future time Hymn ) in a music book qui Was Widespread Among basic schools, ^[16] is unofficially Performed by school choirs During European events. Another version by the Catholic writer Joseph Folliet (1903-1972) is also known.

In 2004, Austrian Professor Peter Roland of the Europa Academy in Vienna presents new, Latin lyrics to European Commission President Romano Prodi , although it has yet to be made official.

Latin	English translation
Is Europa nunc unitaAnd unite maneat Una in diversitate Pacem mundi augeat. Semper regnant in Europa Fides and iustitia And libertas populorum In majore patria. Cives, floreat Europa Opus magnum vocat your Stellae signed sunt in caelo Aureae, quae iungant nos .	Europe is united nowUnited it may remain Our unity in diversity May contribute to world peace. May there forever reign in Europe Faith and Justice And freedom for its people In a bigger motherland. Citizens, Europe shall flourish A great task calls on you Golden stars in the sky are The symbols that shall unite us.

See also

• National symbol

Notes