RON HENGGELER

September 11, 2008
Beethoven's 9th on September 11th

Oh friends, put aside these sounds!
Let us be more civil to each other,
And speak more joyfully.
Beethoven

David and I attended the San Francisco Symphony this afternoon. Carol, our sweet and generous neighbor up the street, kindly gave us two tickets at the last moment because she couldn’t go. Michael Tilson Thomas conducted Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Opus 125, Choral. Davies Symphony Hall was packed for this September 11th concert.
At the end of the performance, the musicians and singers were given a rousing standing ovation. I took along my camera. Here are a few of the photos. The graphic I’ve included at the end was created the day after 9.11 in 2001. It was my response to the tragedy that has changed our world so dramatically. For the larger version of the image, go to my web site.
Click here: http://ronhenggeler.com/Sept%2011/TheEleventh.html


Joy, beautiful godlike spark,
Daughter of Elysium,
drunk as with fire
we step into your sacred presence.
Your magic reunites
what custom segregates.
All men become brothers
beneath your soft wings.

He who has won the great gamble
of being a friend’s friend,
he who has made a great match,
let him add his rejoicing to ours--
and even he who calls just a single soul
in the wide world his own!
Let the one who has never done this
steal weeping from this brotherhood.

All beings drink of joy
at nature’s breast.
All those who are good, all those who are evil
follow her rose-strewn path.
She gave us kisses and vines,
a friend proven to the death.
The serpent is corrupt.
The cherub stands before God.

As joyfully as the planets fly
through the heavens’ magnificent spaces:
Brothers—follow your path
joyfully, as a hero rides toward victory.

Be embraced, you millions!
This kiss is for the world!
Brothers—a loving father must live
above the canopy of stars.

Do you bow down, you millions?
Do you sense the creator, world?
Seek him above the canopy of stars.
Above the stars: He must live above the stars.

From Friedrich von Schiller’s “An die Freude”

 

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The images are not in the public domain. They are the sole property of the artist and may not be reproduced on the Internet, sold, altered, enhanced, modified by artificial, digital or computer imaging or in any other form without the express written permission of the artist. Non-watermarked copies of photographs on this site can be purchased by contacting Ron.