We gathered for Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” sing along and play along on Sunday March 22nd, 2020, after a fingerstyle ukulele workshop the previous day. This song is significant for many reasons, not least the European Union anthem. It’s my goal to get everyone together AFTER the pandemic is over, to sing and play together in the official version of symphonies and choirs.
Watch “Following the Ninth” the amazing documentary of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.
The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain’s Lockdown page has the multi-part sheet music to their version of Ode to Joy as well as a Youtube clip of their performance at a Proms concert.
On Sunday 22nd March 2020, about 53 of us gathered on ZOOM for the jam, with participation from Germany, Italy, England, and USA.
About 30 of us gathered on ZOOM for my first virtual ukulele fingerstyle workshop today. The playalong on March 22nd is not a VIRTUAL one in Germany. So I will host the ZOOM session with the following schedule.
To play with the other parts, please replace G with A. Replace G6 and F#7 with A and D respectively.
In our online, interactive workshop on March 21st, 2020, we did the following
1. Melody
2. Countermelody
3. Bass (low G)
4. Chord melody arrangement: use the first sheet (melody and chords) and play the melody and chords together.
5. Accompaniment: different strum patterns for the chords
6. Looping: record each part and play against it
Years ago, when I was teaching at UH Maui College, I arranged Ode to Joy in its original key for easy piano. This virtual jam could easily be the equivalent of a global flash mob. There I also premiered the documentary “Following the Ninth” to a full house, all about how the “Ode to Joy” was used in times of crises and distress to unite the people e.g. Tian An Men Square, Berlin Wall, Chile etc…. and the 10,000 singers in Japan.
Watch the movie in its entirety here.
For those who read music, check out the three part version for ukulele (notation only) .
This virtual ensemble is open to anyone who will sing or play or both. Next time (to be scheduled) I’d like to have us start in another key and modulate. Billy Bragg’s English version below was featured in the movie Following the Ninth. Let’s have a go at it.
We are looking for video clips of the “Ode to Joy” singing on the balconies on 22nd March 2020. So far, the only evidence online is in a comment on the Youtube video below, courtesy of Chris A.
Can we ukulele players put together the Ode to Joy like the following:
Ode to Joy in F: melody and strum only, performed at the first Somerlele Festival (Somerville, Massachusetts)
Watch “Following the Ninth” – the movie.
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