German composer Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) created some of the world’s best musical masterpieces such as Moonlight Sonata or Für Elise. Despite the loss of his hearing, he wrote music that evoked the spirit of humanism: admiration for life, human strength and the power of solidarity. His 9th Symphony accompanied by Friedrich Schiller’s lyrical verse, Ode to Joy, was chosen as the European anthem.
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