Anthem of Europe: Difference between revisions
→Original German lyrics: "God" -> "gods" in translation. It's plural in the German text, hence not the Christian God. |
Removing unaccuracy. Miguel Ríos sang his own variation of the tune using made-up lyrics. |
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Austrian composer Peter Roland has written suggested lyrics in [[Latin]], but these have not been accorded official status, and are not used by the EU.<ref>[http://www.hymnus-europae.at Hymnus Latinus Europae] www.hymnus-europae.at</ref> Former [[President of the European Commission|Commission president]] and former [[List of prime ministers of Italy|Italian Prime Minister]] [[Romano Prodi]] has expressed the wish that this version may become a second national anthem to all European citizens.<ref name="Latin">[http://blog.arlt.co.uk/blog/PublicisingtheClassics/_archives/2004/10/25/166113.html A Latin European Anthem - supported by Romano Prodi], [http://blog.arlt.co.uk/blog ARLT]</ref> |
Austrian composer Peter Roland has written suggested lyrics in [[Latin]], but these have not been accorded official status, and are not used by the EU.<ref>[http://www.hymnus-europae.at Hymnus Latinus Europae] www.hymnus-europae.at</ref> Former [[President of the European Commission|Commission president]] and former [[List of prime ministers of Italy|Italian Prime Minister]] [[Romano Prodi]] has expressed the wish that this version may become a second national anthem to all European citizens.<ref name="Latin">[http://blog.arlt.co.uk/blog/PublicisingtheClassics/_archives/2004/10/25/166113.html A Latin European Anthem - supported by Romano Prodi], [http://blog.arlt.co.uk/blog ARLT]</ref> |
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The Latin lyrics have been sung many times outside official EU occasions |
The Latin lyrics have been sung many times outside official EU occasions by Austrian [[a cappella]] choir [[Wiener Singverein]]. |
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[[Image:Friedrich schiller.jpg|thumb|[[Friedrich Schiller]] wrote ''An die Freude'' which became the basis for Beethoven's composition. However in the European anthem the words were dropped due to multilingualism.]] |
[[Image:Friedrich schiller.jpg|thumb|[[Friedrich Schiller]] wrote ''An die Freude'' which became the basis for Beethoven's composition. However in the European anthem the words were dropped due to multilingualism.]] |
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Revision as of 13:48, 3 April 2008
 A page of Beethoven's original manuscript. | |
Union anthem of  European Union Council of Europe | |
| Also known as | European Anthem |
|---|---|
| Lyrics | None |
| Music | Ludwig van Beethoven, 1823 |
| Adopted | 1972 and 1985 |
| Audio sample | |
Ode to joy (Instrumental) | |
Ode to Joy is adopted as the anthem of the European Union and the Council of Europe. It is based on the final movement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony composed in 1823 and played on official occasions by both organisations.
History
Origin
Friedrich Schiller wrote the poem An die Freude or To Joy in 1785. It expresses his idealistic vision of the human race becoming brothers (and sisters), and became the basis for the Ode to Joy movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's 9th Symphony.
Adoption
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 19 1972 at Strasbourg: the prelude to "The Ode to Joy", 4th movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's 9th symphony.
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.
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].
Constitution
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 Treaty of Lisbon 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.[2]
Usage
Ode to Joy is the anthem of the Council of Europe and the European Union, promoted as a national symbol for the whole of Europe as are the other European symbols.
It is used on occasions such as Europe Day and formal events such as the signing of a EU treaty. The European Parliament seeks to make greater use of the music, 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]
In 2008 it was used by Kosovo as its national anthem until it adopted its own, playing it at its declaration of independence, as a nod to the EU's role in its independence from Serbia.[3]
Unofficial lyrics
Due to the large number of languages used in the European Union, the anthem is purely instrumental and the German lyrics Friedrich Schiller wrote and Beethoven based the melody upon, have no official status.
Austrian composer Peter Roland has written suggested lyrics in Latin, but these have not been accorded official status, and are not used by the EU.[4] Former Commission president and former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has expressed the wish that this version may become a second national anthem to all European citizens.[5]
The Latin lyrics have been sung many times outside official EU occasions by Austrian a cappella choir Wiener Singverein.
Proposed Latin lyrics
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Original German lyrics
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Media
Template:Multi-listen start Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen end
See also
References
- ^ Emblemes Council of Europe
- ^ a b Beunderman, Mark (2007-07-11). "MEPs defy member states on EU symbols". EU Observer. Retrieved 2007-07-12.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Kosovo declares independence - USATODAY.com". USA Today. 2008-02-17. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
- ^ Hymnus Latinus Europae www.hymnus-europae.at
- ^ 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)