EUROPEAN ANTHEM

Ludwig van Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" is the adopted 'European anthem', by the Council of Europe and the European Union. It is played on official occasions by both organisations.

Contents

History and usage

Status and usage

Unofficial lyrics

Unofficial latin lyrics

Unofficial german lyrics

See also

References

External links

History and usage

The European anthem is based on the final movement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony composed in 1823, which contains a modified version of the lyrics of Friedrich Schiller's ode, ''An die Freude'' (German for Ode To Joy) written in 1785. This poem expresses Schiller's idealistic vision of the human race becoming brothers — a vision Beethoven shared.
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. The Council of European Ministers officially announced the European Anthem on January 19th 1972 at Strasbourg: the prelude to "The Ode to Joy", 4th movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's 9th symphony.
The well-known 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 used to make the official recording. He wrote his decisions on the score, notably those concerning the tempo. Karajan decided on crotchet = 120 whereas Beethoven had written minim = 80.

Status and usage

The anthem was launched via a major information campaign on Europe Day in 1972. In 1985, it was adopted by EU heads of State and government as the official anthem of the then 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 ideals of a united Europe: freedom, peace, and solidarity.^[1].
It was to have been included in the European Constitution along with the other European symbols, however the treaty failed ratification and was replaced by the Reform Treaty which will not include any symbols. In response, the European Parliament decided it would make greater use of the anthem, for example at official occasions. Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering stated he was moved when the anthem was played for him on his visit to Israel and ought to be used in Europe more often.^[2]

Unofficial lyrics

Due to the large number of languages used in the European Union, the anthem is purely instrumental and the German lyrics have no official status. For the German lyrics refer to the article about the 9th Symphony.
Suggested Latin lyrics to the anthem have been written by the Austrian composer Peter Roland, but these lyrics have not been accorded official status, and are not used by the EU^[3]. Former Commission president and current Prime Minister of Italy Romano Prodi has expressed the wish that this version may become a second national anthem to all European citizens^[4]. The Latin lyrics have been sung many times outside official EU occasions, notably by the Spanish singer Miguel Ríos in 1970 and by Austrian singer .^[4]

Unofficial latin lyrics

:'Latin original':Est Europa nunc unita :et unita maneat; :una in diversitate :pacem mundi augeat. :Semper regant in Europa :fides et iustitia :et libertas populorum :in maiore patria. :Cives, floreat Europa, :opus magnum vocat vos. :Stellae signa sunt in caelo :aureae, quae iungant nos.

:'English translation' (literally and without rhyme):Europe is united now:United 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 greater motherland :Citizens, Europe shall flourish,:A great task calls on you.:Golden stars in the sky are:The symbols that shall unite us.

Unofficial german lyrics

:'German original':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.

:'English translation':Joy, beautiful spark of the gods:Daughter of Elysium:We enter fire-imbibed:Heavenly, thy sanctuary:Thy magic reunites those:whom stern custom has parted:All men will become brothers:Under thy gentle wing

See also

★ National symbols

★ European symbols
:
★ Flag of Europe

References

1. Emblemes Council of Europe
2. MEPs defy member states on EU symbols
3. Hymnus Latinus Europae www.hymnus-europae.at
4. A Latin European Anthem - supported by Romano Prodi, ARLT
5. A Latin European Anthem - supported by Romano Prodi, ARLT

External links

★ The European Anthem and downloads - Council of Europe website

★ Delegation of the European Commission (mp3 available there)

★ The European Anthem - European Commission website

★ European anthem European NAvigator

★ Beethoven's Ninth: A Political History, Esteban Buch (Trans. Richard Miller), ISBN 0-226-07824-8 (University Of Chicago Press)