Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

Here is a beautiful piece very well played. Beethoven's Ninth symphony "Ode to Joy" which I first knew as the hymn, "Joyful Joyful we Adore Thee". This orchestra plays it beautifully; notice that there is no music any where, not a microphone in sight, and no instrument cases clutter the ground. The timing of the musicians entering was also very well done. Over all, it is much better than most flash mob attractions that people organize. When Beethoven composed this symphony, he was almost completely deaf. At its first performance, Beethoven could not conduct, because he was deaf, but sat to the side furiously beating time to the music which he could not hear. He was a few measures off when the piece was done and one of his friends had to walk over and turn him around so that he could see the crowd wildly applauding. The whole audience acclaimed him through standing ovations five times; there were handkerchiefs in the air, hats and raised hands, so that Beethoven, who could not hear the applause, could at least see the ovation gestures. The fact that he did write this when nearly deaf, is amazing. It is also interesting to note that this was one of the first pieces written for a choir and an orchestra making it a choral symphony. Beethoven had wanted to write music for Schiller's poem "An die Freude" (Ode to Joy) since he was about 22, and some of the pieces he wrote earlier were used in this symphony. He kept writing and rewriting the piece until he had it just right. It is now one of the most played symphonies in the world! It is also considered Beethoven's best piece.
http://youtu.be/GBaHPND2QJg Enjoy! Below are the words to the beloved old hymn which were written by Henry Van Dyke for Beethoven's symphony.

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, God of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,
Opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise!.:
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flowering  meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain,
Call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living ocean depth of happy rest! 

Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, --
All who live in love are Thine:
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine..

Mortals join the mighty chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
Father-love is reigning o'er us,
Brother-love binds man to man.
Ever singing march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music lifts us sunward
in the triumph song of life!