Hymn of the Month, February 2007: "Joy, Thou Goddess"

Beehoven's Ninth Symphony. Is there a more familiar piece of classical music? Do the children in every congregation gather around the piano after the service to show that they can play this melody? They do at UUP!

This month, our Hymn of the Month is "Joy, Thou Goddess" (#327). The words are by Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805) and the music is, of course, by Ludwig van Beehoven (1770-1827).

Schiller's Ode, entitled "An Die Freude" (To Joy) in German, is a milestone of optimism, celebrating the potential of humanity to shed its pre-Enlightenment ways and proceed into a brighter future, despite the "fashions" of the day, embracing the ideals of universal brotherhood. Here's the complete text (note that the German words are included in the hymanl--we may try them later in the month...)

Joy, thou glorious spark of heaven,
Daughter of Elysium,
We approach fire-drunk,
Heavenly One, your shrine.
Your magic reunites
What custom strictly parts;
All people become brothers,
Where your gentle wing alights.

Chorus
Be embraced, you millions!
This kiss for the whole world!
Brothers, beyond the star-canopy
Must a loving Father dwell.
Do you bow down, you millions?
Do you sense the Creator, world?
Seek Him beyond the star-canopy!
Beyond the stars must He dwell.

Whoever succeeds in the great attempt
To be a friend of a friend,
Whoever has won a lovely woman,
Let him add his jubilation!
Yes, whoever calls even one soul
His own on the earth's globe!
And who never has, let him steal,
Weeping, away from this group.
All creatures drink joy
At the breasts of nature;
All the good, all the evil
Follow her roses' trail.
Kisses gave she us, and wine,
A friend, proven unto death;
Pleasure was to the worm granted,
And the cherub stands before God.
Glad, as his suns fly
Through the Heavens' glorious plan,
Run, brothers, your race,
Joyful, as a hero to victory.
Be embraced, you millions!
This kiss for the whole world!
Brothers, beyond the star-canopy
Must a loving Father dwell.
Do you bow down, you millions?
Do you sense the Creator, world?
Seek Him beyond the star-canopy!
Beyond the stars must He dwell.

Finale repeats the words:
Be embraced, ye millions!
This kiss for the whole world!
Brothers, beyond the star-canopy
Must a loving Father dwell.
Be embraced,
This kiss for the whole world!
Joy, beautiful spark of the gods,
Daughter of Elysium,
Joy, beautiful spark of the gods

These are the words as set by Beehoven for his Symphony Number 9, considered by many to be the crowning achievement of his composing career, including, as it does, four soloists and a full choir and a final movement that can make the hair on your arms stand straight up.

Let's see how well we can do, and have some fun!