Tuned to the last notes of Beethoven's famous 9th symphony, this wind chime is a classic. The premiere of the symphony took place in Vienna in 1824 and it was a great success. It is said that at the end of the performance, the German composer who was deaf, remained immersed in his score without hearing the applause; it was not until one of the soloists touched his arm that Beethoven could see the hands and the handkerchiefs giving him a standing ovation. It was the last public appearance of the genius, who died 3 years later.
For the fourth movement, Beethoven used in part Friedrich Schiller's poem The Ode to Joy:
“Kiss each other, millions of beings!
A kiss for all the earth!
Brothers, above the starry vault
Must live the very dear Father.
Do you bow down, millions of beings?
Do you sense the Creator, O world?
Seek him beyond the firmament!
It is in the stars that he must live!
O Joy, beautiful divine spark!
Daughter of the assembly of the gods!
We enter it, drunk with fire.
Celestial, your kingdom!
Your magic revives
What the rigor of customs divide;
All human beings become brothers,
In the shadow of your gentle wing.
O Joy, beautiful divine spark!
Daughter of the assembly of the gods!
O Joy, beautiful divine spark!"
In 1985, the Ode to Joy was adopted as the official European Anthem.
May the Joy that inspired this chime be with you forever!
The tuning of this wind chime is guaranteed for life.
