By: Troy Qian

Beethoven, the composer of the ‘Ode to Joy,’ created this song over 200 years ago. And this song is still popular to many people in the world. The “Ode” has become a symbol for unity and hope, being both sincere and ironic. With enlightening lyrics such as, “Be embraced, oh you millions!” and “Here’s a kiss for the entire world” have made the musical piece an attachment for the Olympics.

It has been utilized by both oppressive regimes and the individuals who oppose them. The song was crafted so that it was easy to sing and hard to forget, with the sequence of four beats per measure, unfolding into four-bar phrases. Often, there is one note for each syllable of text, and, most importantly, the range is an octave, or a series of eight notes, with the melodic line moving either up or down the scale. So, people with no musical training can learn this almost immediately.

Although it was a simple song, ‘Ode to Joy’ was also game changing. Before 1824, no symphony had included a chorus. And in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, the chorus comes out of nowhere, with the first three movements being purely instrumental, and the finale starting in a similar vein.

Not only that, but ‘Ode to Joy’ has also helped make the best pop songs today. For example, the easy and simple hummable phrases are used in a Taylor Swift hit today. It also has a sound of terror in “A Clockwork Orange” and “Die Hard,” but is played innocently on “Baby Einstein” albums and in a sketch by the Muppets.

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