An anthem for Europe: Comparing historical appropriations of Beethoven's Ode to Joy
Since its composition two centuries ago in 1824, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (Ode to Joy) has been heralded the world over not only as a great work of art, but also as a symbol of political importance. In Germany, it was lionised as the embodiment of a national spirit, first during the Franco-Prussian war, then as a prize of the Nazi repertoire; in Rhodesia, it became the national anthem of a far-r