Pieces › Ludwig van Beethoven

Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 “Choral”

IV. Finale. Presto – “Ode to Joy”

Ludwig van Beethoven · 1822–24 · D minor · 943 bars · 1043 chords analysed

The finale brings in four soloists and a choir to sing Schiller's “Ode to Joy” — the first time voices had been used in a symphony.

Beethoven's nine symphonies (1800–1824) changed what a symphony could be: longer, louder, more dramatic, and finally, in the Ninth, with singers. A symphony is a large work for orchestra, usually in four movements: a dramatic first movement in sonata form, a slow movement, a dance (minuet or scherzo) and a fast finale. With strings, woodwind, brass and timpani all taking part, the harmony is spread across the whole orchestra — the numerals under the score read it all at once.

Keys visited: D minor, A minor, A major, F major, C♯ minor, D major, E major, B♭ major, G major, C minor, E♭ major, B♭ minor, E minor, B minor, B major, G minor, C major.