Ode to Joy

poem by Schiller

Also known as: “An die Freude”

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July 20, 2026

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"Ode to Joy" is a poem by the German writer Friedrich Schiller. Schiller wrote the poem in 1785, and it is a celebration of unity, brotherhood, and freedom. The poem was later set to music by Ludwig van Beethoven and is famously used as the final movement of his Symphony No. 9. This symphony is a significant work in Western music, bridging the Classical and Romantic periods. Schiller's poem has become an anthem for peace and international cooperation, notably serving as the official anthem of the European Union.

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Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125
…poem “An die Freude” (“Ode to Joy”). The work was Beethoven’s final complete symphony, and it represents an important stylistic bridge between the Classical and Romantic periods of Western music history. Symphony No. 9 premiered on May 7, 1824, in Vienna, to an overwhelmingly enthusiastic audience, and it is…
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…poem “An die Freude” (“Ode to Joy”). The work was Beethoven’s final complete symphony, and it represents an important stylistic bridge between the Classical and Romantic periods of Western music history. Symphony No. 9 premiered on May 7, 1824, in Vienna, to an overwhelmingly enthusiastic audience, and it is…
Read More