beethovan's ninth

Ludwig van Beethoven

(17 December 1770 – 26 March 1827)

His last words were, "Pity, pity—too late!", after he heard about a gift of twelve bottles of wine from his publisher. Beethovan's death was witnessed by his sister-in-law and by his friend Anselm Hüttenbrenner. A. W. Thayer recorded Hüttenbrenner's account of Beethoven's death:

"There remained in the room only Hüttenbrenner and Mrs. van Beethoven. The storm passed over, covering the Glacis with snow and sleet. As it passed away a flash of lightning lighted up everything. This was followed by an awful clap of thunder. Huttenbrenner had been sitting on the side of the bed sustaining Beethoven's head--holding it up with his right arm

His breathing was already very much impeded, and he had been for hours dying. At this startling, awful peal of thunder, the dying man suddenly raised his head from Huttenbrenner's arm, stretched out his own right arm majestically--like a general giving orders to an army. This was but for an instant; the arm sunk back; he fell back. Beethoven was dead."

The Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, is Beethovan's final complete symphony and considered by many to be the greatest musical composition of all time. It was the first time he used voices in a symphony. The lyrics were taken from 'Ode to Joy', by Friedrich Schiller.

1st movement:

2nd movement:

3rd movement:

4th movement: