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How Beethoven’s ‘mistake’ became one of our most famous tunes

In our series Decoding the music masterpieces, music experts explain key works of classical music.

Without question, the final movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony contains one of the most famous tunes ever written. Since its first performance in 1824, the “Ode to Joy” has been repurposed in endless ways, both reverential and exploitative, from performances at the Berlin Wall to its use in tawdry advertising.

Bach – Orchestral Suite No. 2 BWV 1067 (full)

Orkiestra Historyczna performs Bach - Orchestral Suite No. 2

Polish-based early music orchestra {oh!} Orkiestra Historyczna performs Johann Sebastian Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067. Recorded on March 23, 2013, as the Final Concert of Festiwal “Musica Poetica” in Tarnow, Poland.

Bach: BWV 1067 Suite – Badinerie (Croatian Baroque Orchestra)

The Croatian Baroque Orchestra performs “Badinerie” from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067. Recorded on November 21, 2010, at the Croatian Music Institute. Baroque flute (soloist): Ana Benić.

Beethoven – Moonlight Sonata, 3rd Mvt. (Marnie Laird)

The 3rd movement (Presto Agitato) of Ludwig Van Beethoven’s “Moonlight” Sonata No. 14, Op. 27, No. 2 performed live on piano by Marnie Laird for Brooklyn Classical.

Stutzmann & Jaroussky – Recording Handel duet “Son nata a lagrimar”

Nathalie Stutzmann & Philippe Jaroussky - Recording Handel duet "Son nata a lagrimar"

French operatic contralto and conductor Nathalie Stutzmann and the French countertenor Philippe Jaroussky record George Frideric Handel ‘s duet “Son nata a lagrimar”. Stutzmann also conducts her superb musicians playing on Baroque instruments (Orfeo 55). This famous Cornelia and Sesto duet is from Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Italian for “Julius Caesar in Egypt”, HWV 17), commonly known as Giulio Cesare, a dramma per musica (opera seria) in three acts.

Bach: Harpsichord Concerto No.1 (Jean Rondeau)

French harpsichordist Jean Rondeau plays Johann Sebastian Bach’s Harpsichord Concerto No.1 in D Minor, BWV 1052.

Decoding the music masterpieces: Bach’s Six Solo Cello Suites

Zoltan Szabo, University of Sydney

Johann Sebastian Bach’s Six Solo Cello Suites are some of the most iconic classical music works. They have inspired not only cellists and audiences but other artforms as well, and they have been featured in ballet and theatre productions, even in films.

Bach – Matthäus Passion: Erbarme dich (Guillon)

Accompanied by the Choir and Orchestra of Collegium Vocale Ghent, the French countertenor Damien Guillon sings “Erbarme dich, mein Gott” (English: Have mercy, my God), an aria for contralto, solo violin, strings (originally 2 violins and 1 viola) and basso continuo, from the sacred oratorio “Matthäus-Passion” (English: St Matthew Passion), BWV 244 written by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1727. Solo violin: Sophie Gent, the Australian violinist. Musical director: Philippe Herreweghe.

Chopin: Piano Concerto No.1 (Argerich)

Martha Argerich performs Frédéric Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1

Accompanied by the NHK Symphony Orchestra (a Japanese broadcast orchestra based in Tokyo), Argentine classical concert pianist Martha Argerich performs Frédéric Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11. Conductor: Charles Édouard Dutoit. Recorded on November 21, 1996.

Delibes: Flower Duet, Devieilhe & Crebassa

Accompanied by the period-instrument orchestra Les Siècles under its founder, François-Xavier Roth, French operatic soprano Sabine Devieilhe and French mezzo-soprano Marianne Crebassa perform “The Flower Duet” (French: Duo des fleurs / Sous le dôme épais), a famous duet for sopranos from Léo Delibes’ in three acts, Lakmé.