Beethoven’s Ninth

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is one of the great artistic achievements of the Western world. With that masterpiece as our focal point, in this course we will explore the composer’s life and music, the broader musical culture of early 19th-century Europe, and the social and political context of the symphony’s 1824 premiere. Moreover, we will trace the changing meanings of the symphony’s climactic “Ode to Joy” in various historical contexts from Beethoven’s time to ours, including German nationalism, the Japanese tradition of New Year’s performances, and the adaptation of the “Ode to Joy” theme as the anthem of the European Union.