The Japanese love of Ode to Joy, the final movement of Beethovens Ninth Symphony, began one hundred years ago during the First World War, when German soldiers being held as prisoners of war performed it at Christmas for the first time in Japan. In Europe, on the same date, German, French, and British soldiers engaged in a Christmas ceasefire. Beethovens uplifting music is known affectionately as Daiku -- Number Nine in Japan. The lyrics are from a poem by Frederick Schiller, celebrating human unity. Worldwide, Ode to Joy has long been considered a peace anthem, a song of resistance to not just war, but also violent state repression. Chilean democracy demonstrators sang the song during PInochets dictatorship. Chinese protesters sang it during the march on Tiananmen Square. This year, the music and lyrics are even more meaningful to the supporters of democracy and Article 9, the Constitutions Peace Clause in Okinawa and Japan. ...Brother love binds man to man Ever singing march we onward Victors in the midst of strife Joyful music lifts us Son ward In the triumph song of life...*
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 12:25:49 +0000
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