What piece of classical music do you dedicate to Friderich von Schiller's Todays,250 th Aniversary?

Question

Well today is the 250 th anniversary of our great german poet Friedrich von Schiller(you know the guy who wrote "Ode to Joy" and many other great works of literature).In case someone here isn't familiar with him,look here on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_von_Schiller

I am aware that many know his Ode to joy,used in Beethoven's 9th symphony(the choral at the end)
What piece would you like to chose,for celebrating this anniversary?
One plea in case you chose the Beethoven's 9th.If so please tell me the version you would prefer and also post a link if possible.Thanks to you all in advance.Stefan K.feat.Dr.Nirokay.

Answer 1

I immediately thought of Schubert. The piece I think most fitting is this one: Quintet in C, D 956 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmeOkfhkqa4

A beautiful piece of music for a beautiful writer!

How cliche I sound... :-(

Answer 2

A number of operas were written, based on plays by Schiller.



Albericah has already nominated Tchaikovsky's 'Maid of Orleans, To this, I would add Verdi's 'Giovanna d'Arco' (1845). However, better than this is perhaps his 'Luisa Miller' of 1849 or, best of all, his 'Don Carlo' of 1867



Let's not forget, either Rossini's Guillame Tell.



A favourite in this household is Donizetti's 'Maria Stuarda'



These are just a few. Virtually every play by Schiller has been used as the basis for an opera at one time or another



To get off opera there is 'Nanie' by Brahms and a number of lieder by Scuber including 'Die Bürgschaft'



Any of these pieces would be a fitting tribute to your great poet and dramatist.

Answer 3

Not, "just to be different"; but because I'm fairly certain you're going to receive a number of responses, nominating great, and/or very famous and popular classical compositions: Gounod's "Faust"; Rossini's "William Tell"; Liszt's "Faust Symphony"; etc.



But tangentially, to focus on eliciting a greater and much deserved awareness of who in my opinion, is one of, if not the greatest heroine of all time: Joan of Arc.



A new film has came out recently extolling the courage and great bravery of this country's Amelia Earhart. And not to disparage her, but her accomplishments, heroism, again in my humble opinion, pales when compared to that of the tragic Joan. Schiller wrote a play about "The Maid": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Maid_of_Orleans_(play)



To which Tchaikovsky wrote an opera, based on a variation of the original text, and is my choice to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Schiller's birth. Granted, not a master-piece, perhaps even at best, second rate opera; the point being that each of these great artist in their respective fields of endeavor, strove in their own way to memorialize her. And for that, I commend them both.

.

. A You Tube video of the finale to Tchaikovsky's "The Maid of Orleans": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sbPlwJnIK0



Alberich

Answer 4

Hi Stefan,



Well, coincidentally, George Frederick Handel died the same year von Schiller was born - 1759. So because of this - and the fact that both were born in Germany - I'll nominate one of Handel's works as a celebratory piece.



How about this Sinfonia from the oratorio "Saul?"



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0aDMo7pAUE&feature=related



Enjoy!

Hafwen xoxox

Answer 5

Water Music, Handel

Answer 6

J. Brahms - Op. 82 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0oFv64um20



... Shiller is so much more than Ode to Joy, as Beethoven is so much more than Symphonies 5 and 9.

Answer 7

Schubert also composed a setting of Schiller's "Hymne an den Unendlichen" (Hymn to the Unending) which would also seem fitting though I've searched youtube and damnit! no videos to be found.



regards mephisto



P.S oh didn't notice Alberich's nominee,

fantastic! never heard it before.

Answer 8

Something by JS. Bach that is quite common, but it still speaks to me ... I like this version in particular.

It's Cantata 147

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r8cap0JaF4



Thank you, Stefan!

tucomena