Skip to main content

Primary sourceDocument1824

Symphony No. 9

Ludwig van Beethoven · 1824

Beethoven's final complete symphony, famous for its choral 'Ode to Joy' finale, composed while he was almost totally deaf.

Beethoven's own manuscript of his final symphony, composed despite his total deafness.

Ask Ludwig van Beethoven about this sourceView the original(opens in new tab)
Scan of a handwritten manuscript page of orchestral music on many staves, with pencil or ink notation, Italian and German text written under the staves, and a handwritten heading at the top. Appears to be a sketch or draft score page.
Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 9, manuscript page, 1824.

About this source

What it is

The Symphony No. 9 in D minor is a choral symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven, composed between 1822 and 1824 and first performed in Vienna on 7 May 1824. The original manuscript score is held by the Berlin State Library.

Why it matters

This was the first time a major composer had used singers in a symphony. Beethoven wrote it while almost completely deaf, setting Schiller's poem 'Ode to Joy' for soloists and chorus. It shows his determination to keep creating despite his disability and remains one of the most performed works in Western music.

Look closer

  • What does it mean that Beethoven could no longer hear his own music performed?
  • Why might a composer choose to add human voices to an orchestral form that usually had none?
  • What does the handwritten manuscript tell you about how Beethoven composed, compared to a printed score?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Ludwig van Beethoven on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

More Ludwig van Beethoven sources

Meet the AI Ludwig van Beethoven →
Charcoal and white chalk drawing on grey paper of a death mask of a bald man with closed eyes, a furrowed brow, a large nose and a pursed mouth, seen three-quarter view against a dark background and a vertical wooden post. A cursive signature and date appear at lower right.Sculpture

Secondary source

Death of Ludwig van Beethoven

Theodor Kandale (after Josef Danhauser) · 1827 (mask); drawing 1893

Photograph of a dark bronze-toned bust of a man with full wavy hair swept back, a furrowed brow, and a stern, closed-mouth expression, shown from the chest up against a pale grey background.Sculpture

Secondary source

Bust of Ludwig van Beethoven by Frederic Storck

Frederic Storck · 1930

Scan of a handwritten German letter on aged, yellowed paper, in cursive ink with some crossed-out words. A blue library stamp reading 'Nationalbibliothek' with a crest is at the upper left. The heading begins 'Für meine Brüder Carl und'.Letter

Primary source

Heiligenstadt Testament

Ludwig van Beethoven · 6 October 1802

Photograph of a handwritten German document on aged paper, with signatures and seals at left and a column of text at right listing sums of 1500, 700 and 1800 florins totaling 4000 florins, referencing Ludwig van Beethoven.Document

Primary source

Agreement between Beethoven and Archduke Rudolph, Prince Kinsky and Prince Lobkowitz

1 March 1809

Photograph of a plaster-like bust of a man with wavy, swept-back hair, furrowed brow, and stern expression, shown from the front on a pale background. The bust's surface is worn and slightly chipped.Sculpture

Secondary source

Model for Bronze Casts of the Beethoven Bust

Frederic Storck

Ready when you are

Start chatting with Ludwig van Beethoven now.

20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.

Trial Humy for freeGet a quote for institutions