Which composer wrote Symphony No. 9, famous for its “Ode to Joy” finale?

Ludwig van Beethoven wrote Symphony No. 9, famous for its “Ode to Joy” finale.

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony premiered in Vienna on 7 May 1824. Its final movement uses Friedrich Schiller’s poem “An die Freude,” or “Ode to Joy,” for soloists and chorus, an unusually expansive choice for a symphony of its era.

The work is celebrated for combining orchestral and vocal forces, and its melody has become one of the best-known themes in classical music. Beethoven was already profoundly deaf by the time of the premiere, though he remained involved in the composition and reportedly appeared on stage during the performance.

The “Ode to Joy” melody was adopted as the official anthem of the European Communities in 1972 and later became the anthem of the European Union. The symphony is often regarded as one of Beethoven’s greatest works and a landmark in Western music.