Prompt Cast
The Legacy of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
TLDR Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, composed despite his severe hearing loss, revolutionized the musical landscape with the addition of a choir. It has since become a legendary piece, with the Ode to Joy becoming the national anthem for several countries and the symphony itself being a popular choice for New Year's Eve performances, particularly in Japan.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in Vienna in 1824 changed the musical landscape forever.
02:01
Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is one of the most famous pieces of music in history and was composed by Beethoven despite his severe hearing loss.
03:40
Beethoven received a commission to compose a symphony for the Philharmonic Society of London, and after five years of not putting anything to paper, he began working on what would become his masterpiece, the Ninth Symphony, which he premiered in Vienna with the largest orchestra he had ever assembled.
05:16
The addition of a choir to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony was revolutionary at the time, and despite the premiere not being as good as modern performances, the crowd gave a rousing standing ovation, although Beethoven couldn't hear it.
06:51
Beethoven's Ninth Symphony received immediate praise from music critics and went on to become a legendary piece, with the fourth movement, the Ode to Joy, becoming the national anthem for several countries and the symphony itself being a popular choice for New Year's Eve performances, particularly in Japan.
08:26
The tradition of performing Beethoven's Ninth Symphony on New Year's Eve in Japan began in the 1920s and has since become a mega performance with as many as ten thousand people in the choir, and the symphony also played a role in the creation of the Compact Disc.
10:03
The CD standard of 74 minutes was determined by the length of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, and although there wasn't a 74 minute version released until 1997, it is now readily available on music streaming services and YouTube, but seeing it performed live is highly recommended.
