May 7, 1824 – 2024. It is exactly 200 years ago that the ninth symphony of Ludwig Van Beethoven had its world premiere. That it would grow into one of the most iconic compositions of all time, the hard-of-hearing genius did not know. And what would he have known anyway? Perhaps he realized it very well in any case…
The story that Beethoven did not hear his ninth himself because he was completely deaf must finally be put to rest. The composer was not deaf. He did suffer from a severe form of tinnitus which he had experienced to some extent as a teenager. This can be inferred from the fact that during a walk with his music teacher in Bonn he did not hear one or more birds singing while his teacher pointed out their beautiful song. Tinnitus can drown out sounds. You don't hear something else because of the disturbing tinnitus sound, but you are not actually deaf.
It is a fact that Beethoven could hear on the left – you can find that in his scribbled notes. So you can assume that he heard his ninth as well, even though the myth says he heard nothing. That would have been the reason that when unprecedented applause broke out after the final notes at the premiere, he remained standing with his back to the audience and wept because he had heard nothing. However, there is not a single testimony in which Beethoven claims this. The only recorded testimony is that of the soprano soloist who went to Beethoven on the stage and turned him toward the audience because she thought he did not hear the applause and cheers. He wept even more intensely then.
Personally, it is my conviction that Beethoven could hear his symphony, however severe the tinnitus was – however disturbed – and that he wept from deep emotion that he had succeeded. Tears also from gratitude to the musicians he turned toward, not the audience, for having accomplished something. Beethoven did not do it for the applause of that premiere, he did it for Mankind. That is why the 'Ode an die Freude'.
Miles of paper have been written about this symphony. The structure, the story, how it came about and so on. Very much fascinating and instructive literature is available so that it is not for us to bring our own perspective other than to explain that the man who is ¼ of us through his grandfather Louis, knew very well what he had accomplished and that he could still hear it somewhat despite everything. What he could not foresee is that this immensely popular symphony with its extremely difficult vocal parts would conquer Japan like no other country. And what he also could not foresee is that his music would be used for Friedrich Schiller's text "Ode an die Freude" as a European anthem, albeit in an arrangement by Herbert von Karajan. It did not bring him bad luck and the conductor's descendants still enjoy the rights today. It is good that Beethoven did not know that, he would be particularly angry that another fills his pockets so with his work. Whether he would have been pleased with the fact that this part of his creation became an anthem, I will leave aside.
Be that as it may, deaf or not deaf, anthem or not an anthem, the ninth symphony will survive for a long time, very long and perhaps longer than the EU and inspire people, bring them to admiration, inspire enthusiasm. In fact, you could say that Beethoven's Ode an die Freude is actually an 'Ode an Beethoven', even if that was not his intention. The greatest honor belongs to him, the creator, the genius, the wonder Beethoven. Dear Ludwig Van Beethoven, hereby: thank you! With a deep bow to you, emperor of Music.
- PHOTOS: © Wikipedia