 |
 |
|
News...gigs events releases
Billy's Ode to Joy reopens Royal Festival Hall
14/06/07
Billy's new lyric for the Ode to Joy from Beethoven's 9th Symphony was performed at the South Bank Overture Festival on Sunday 10 June 2007 as the culmination of the re-opening of the Royal Festival Hall. Fifteen hundred amateur choristers from around the country, accompanied by the Philharmonia Orchestra, filled most of the seats in the auditorium of the Festival Hall for the performance. Billy was there with his family to witness the event.
Explaining the thinking behind his new lyric he said: "This is not a translation of
Schiller's original poem the 'Ode to Joy', the traditional German lyric of the 9th Symphony. What I have done is to take inspiration for what I consider to be the key line is Schiller's poem - alle menschen werden bruder - all men become brothers - and constructed from that sentiment a new ode to reconciliation and peace."
Ode to Joy - Schiller/Billy Bragg
Baritone solo:
Enough my friends, no more woes now: Lift up your spirits!
Here now let us sing our song of joy and freedom.
The future is now in our hands.
Rise up!
Chorus: Rise up!
Baritone: Rise up!
See now like a phoenix rising
From the rubble of the war
Hope of ages manifested
Peace and freedom evermore!
Brothers, sisters stand together
Raise your voices now as one -
Though by history divided
Reconciled in unison
Chorus
Brothers, sisters etc
Quartet
Throw off now the chains of ancient
Bitterness and enmity
Hand in hand let's walk together
On the path of liberty
Hark a new dawn now is breaking
Lift your voices now in song!
Though by history divided
Reconciled in unison
Chorus
Hark a new dawn now is breaking
Etc
Quartet
What's to be then, O my brother?
Sister, what is in your heart?
Tell me now the hopes you harbour
What's the task, and where to start?
Though now speak ten million voices
Every word is understood:
Furnish every heart with joy and
Banish hatred for good!
Chorus
Though now speak ten million voices etc
Every word is understood
Furnish every heart with joy and
Banish hatred for good!
Banish Hatred now for good
Now for good, for good, for good.
Tenor solo
Go! Go,
Go now and spread this message
To the ends of the earth, go children.
Spread this message
Of enemies reconciled!
Brother, put your hand in mine
Sister, put your hand in mine
That henceforth we all may live in peace and harmony
Brother put your hand in mine
Chorus
Sister, put your hand in mine
That henceforth we all may live in peace and harmony
Both:
Brother, sister, live in peace and harmony now!
Chorus
See now like a phoenix rising
From the rubble of the war
Hope of ages manifested
Peace and freedom evermore!
Brothers, sisters, stand together
Raise your voices now as one –
Though by history divided
Reconciled in unison!
Brothers, sisters, stand together
Raise your voices now as one -
Though by history divided
Reconciled in unison!
(Andante maestoso)
Chorus
All about us storm clouds gather
Lightning bolts they may release
Let our voices drown the thunder
In the name of lasting peace.
Brothers! All humanity
Stands together beneath the heavens!
Sisters, all humanity
Reconciled in unison.
(Adagio non troppo)
ALLE MENSCHEN WERDEN BRUDER!
All humanity as one!
All humanity as one!
where the stars circle above us.
All humanity! All as one!
(Allegro energico)
See now like a phoenix rising
From the rubble of the war
Hope of ages manifested
Peace and freedom evermore.
Rise up!
+
Let our voices drown the thunder
In the name of lasting peace!
Basses
Brothers, sisters, stand together
Tenors
Raise your voices now as one
Altos
Sisters, all humanity
ALL
Reconciled in unison!
Brothers, sisters, all humanity stands together
'Neath the heavens
ALLE MENSCHEN WERDEN BRUDER!
(Allegro ma non tanto)
Brothers, sisters, stand together
Raise your voices now in song
Lift your voices now!
Hand in hand now
Let’s walk together on the path of liberty.
Brothers, sisters, stand together
Raise your voices
Lift your voices now!
ALLE MENSCHEN ALLE MENSCHEN ALLE MENSCHEN!
All mankind now, Brothers! Sisters!
All humanity stands together reconciled in unison.
In unison!
(Prestissimo)
Let our voices drown the thunder
In the name of lasting peace
Of lasting peace!
Brothers! Sing from the highest places!
Let the valleys ring now, ring with song!
Let the valleys ring with song
Let our voices drown the thunder
In the name of lasting peace –
Brothers, brothers, sisters, stand together
Raise your voices now as one
Brothers, sisters, stand together stand together!
Billy Bragg
12 April 2007
 |
 |
 |
 |