Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Music greeting from the State Cultural Institute and the BNR on occasion of the Day of Europe

Photo: Angelina Piskova

The Anthem of Europe to the rendition of the Bulgarian National Radio Children’s Choir is the special music message sent by the State Cultural Institute with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bulgarian National Radio on occasion of the Day of Europe-May 9.

The hymn is based on the “Ode of Joy” from the final movement of Bethoven’s 9th Symphony composed in 1823. The Ninth Symphony is believed to be the first example of a major composer using singers in a symphonic piece. Friedrich Schiller wrote the poem “An die Freude” (“To Joy”) in 1785 as a celebration of the brotherhood of man. After Schiller’s death, the poem provided the words for the choral movement of Ludwig Van Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.

In 1971, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe decided to propose adopting the prelude to the “Ode of Joy” from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony as an anthem. Renowned conductor Herbert von Karajan was asked to write three instrumental arrangements- for solo piano, for wind instruments and for symphonic orchestra. Of course, the Anthem of Europe has choral versions as well, such as the recording used by the Bulgarian National Radio and the State Cultural Institute as a greeting on occasion of the Day of Europe.






Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

The KHANS ft. Belonoga – Tears of Heaven

A combination of powerful house and techno beats, deep bass lines, captivating melodies, magical pop and authentic ethnic vocals – this is the music of the Bulgarian duo The KHANS. They are Petar Alexiev – composer and producer, and Atanas Borisov –..

published on 1/24/25 10:11 AM

"Angels Among Us" collects unreleased songs by Vanya Kostova

The angelic-voiced Vanya Kostova is no longer with us, but her music is here and it is still strong, sincere and alive. Vanya's son - singer Boyan Mihaylov, now presents this "heavenly" album, which has collected 15 unreleased..

published on 1/23/25 11:29 AM

Experimental musicians Kazuhisa Uchihashi and Frank Gratkowski launch Sofia Free Jazz

The Sofia Free Jazz Festival will be inaugurated today by two legendary musicians of experimental music and unconventional jazz - Frank Gratkowski (Germany) and Kazuhisa Uchihashi (Japan). Sofia Free Jazz is the new series of the Bulgarian National..

published on 1/23/25 8:10 AM