Symphony No. 9(Ludwig van Beethoven) 

Story by Bp. Jerry Ogles, Logos of St Andrews (2001)

 

¹² So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. ¹³ He had also seven sons and three daughters. ¹⁴ And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. ¹⁵ And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. ¹⁶ After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations. ¹⁷ So Job died, being old and full of days. Book of Job, Chapter 42.

The great composer, Ludwig v. Beethoven, is possibly the greatest musical composer of all time. Yet, he met with many hardships and misfortunes in his lifetime that would have devastated one of lesser metal. The period between 1814 and 1824 were years of professional famine for Beethoven. Having lost the one gift that makes the joy of music so ebullient - his hearing - the man of joyful music also lost many of his friends as his financial fortunes took a serious plunge.

Ten years past between his last symphony, the Eighth, and his memorable Ninth Symphony in D minor. Imagine the despair of Beethoven as he attempted to write this masterpiece from 'imagined sound' since he was deaf.         

The Ninth Symphony finally was completed and premiered in 1824, not long before its creator's death. On the night of the premier, Beethoven stood apprehensively as he conducted the last movement. At the concluding notes of the final movement – the 4th, 'Ode to Joy,’ the composer stood in forsaken silence certain that his masterpiece had failed. He could not hear the thunderous standing ovation of the audience behind him. Suddenly, the presiding conductor, recognizing Beethoven's bewilderment, gently turned the musical genius around so he could witness the joyful response of the crowd. What overpowering joy must have entered his heart as he saw the awe-inspiring response. God had saved the best wine in Beethoven's life for last - and he gleefully took his bow.  

Just as Christ provided the best wine for the last at the marriage at Cana of Gallilee, so God frequently saves the best wine for last in the lives of those whom He loves. Maybe He is saving YOUR best wine for last! 

In the Ninth symphony, the deep emotion and great passion of this great composer is fully brought to light. It seems that he poured his heart and soul in among the notes of this great work.

The Ninth Symphony is the last one written by Beethoven, but it stands out as the shining Sun among all other such works and has endured the centuries, and will doubtless remain forever, as long as the Sun rises and sets, as the crowning achievement in musical beauty, harmony and simple grandeur. 

The beauty of sound, technical merit, and popular appeal of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony remains today as one of the world’s greatest masterpieces and sets a high standard for any aspiring composer whose hopes and ambition are to achieve the heights.

 REMEMBER THY CREATOR - a poem by Maurice Dyson

"Remember now thy Creator 

in the days of thy youth."

Ecclesiastes 12:1

 

Remember thy Creator,

Before the evil days;

While life is still a challenge,

And passions are ablaze;

Before the light gets misty,

And sight is getting dim;

And all desire for living

Is spiritless and slim.

 

Remember thy Creator,

Before the cord is loosed;

The thread of life is broken;

The staff no longer used;

When sound of grinding ceases;

With industry complete;

And caskets bearing loved ones 

Are carried down the street.

 

Remember thy Creator,

While memories remain;

Before the shadows deepen,

And life becomes a bane;

Before the soul is yielded,

And flesh returns to dust;

Remember thy Creator,

And make the Lord thy trust.

ã 2001 by Maurice Dyson

 

The Family Altar - F.W. Herzberger (1922) 

March 22

"Then delivered he [Pilate] Him unto them to be crucified.

And they took Jesus, and led Him away. And He, bearing His

cross, went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which

is called in the Hebrew Golgotha." John 19:16, 17.

"Let us also go, that we may die with Him," Thomas ex-

claimed when his Master turned His face toward Jerusalem there

to suffer and die. "Let us also go, that we may die with Him!"

Must we not make these words of Thomas ours as we see our

bleeding, suffering Lord going forth to His death, bearing His

cross? Do not our hearts melt with sorrowing love and gratitude

at the touching sight? He bears His cross, bears it willingly,

uncomplainingly, in loving obedience to His heavenly Father's

will, bears with it all sin and guilt, the sin and guilt of all the

sons of Adam ! Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away

the sin of the world ! He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,

and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not

His mouth. (Is. 53:7.)

I see my Lord, the pure, the meek, the lowly,

Along the mournful way in sadness tread;

The thorns are on His brow, and He, the Holy,

Bearing His cross, to Calvary is led.

Silent He moveth on, all uncomplaining,

Though wearily His grief and burden press;

And foes — nor shame nor pity now restraining —

With scoff and jeering mock His deep distress.

'Tis hell's dark hour; yet calm Himself resigning,

E'en as a lamb that goeth to be slain,

The wine-press lone He treadeth unrepining,

And falling blood-drops all His raiment stain.

In mortal weakness 'neath His burden sinking,

The Son of God accepts a mortal's aid!

Then passes on to Golgotha unshrinking,

Where love's divinest sacrifice is made.

Dear Lord ! what though my path be set with sorrow,

And oft beneath some heavy cross I groan?

My soul, weighed down, shall strength and courage borrow

At thoughts of deeper grief which Thou hast known.

And I, in tears, will yet look up in gladness,

And hope, when troubles most my soul would drown;

The mournful way which Thou didst tread in sadness

Was but Thy way to glory and Thy crown.