Hello everyone,

I am Ludwig van Beethoven, a famous composer from Germany. Today I want to tell you an exciting story about how I composed a piece of music that later became the anthem of Europe. This anthem is called "Ode to Joy" and comes from my 9th Symphony.

It all began in 1823 when I was writing the music for the final piece of my 9th Symphony. This symphony is a large musical work that ends with a choir – meaning that many people sing together. For this finale, I used a poem by Friedrich Schiller called "Ode to Joy." It is about friendship and unity among all people in the world. But why did I choose this particular poem? Well, I wanted to create something special that would carry the message of peace and brotherhood into the world. Because I firmly believed that all people should live together in friendship, no matter where they come from.

Many years later, in 1972, the Council of Europe decided to adopt my "Ode to Joy" as their anthem. They thought that the melody and the message perfectly matched the values they stand for – freedom, peace, and solidarity. In 1985, it was then decided that my music should also become the anthem of the European Union. It is meant to serve as a symbol of unity and cooperation among the countries of Europe.

The European anthem has no lyrics in order not to favor any particular language and because music is a universal language that can be understood by everyone. Therefore, you only hear the melody of my "Ode to Joy" when the European anthem is played.

And so, a piece of music that I wrote almost 200 years ago became an important symbol for all of Europe. Isn't that amazing?

Best regards,

Ludwig van Beethoven

Europe is a continent that comprises many different countries, such as Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. In total, there are 44 countries in Europe. Each of these countries has its own culture, language, and history. Europe is renowned for its beautiful cities, such as Paris, Rome, and Berlin, and for famous landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, and the Brandenburg Gate.

The European Union (EU) is a special group of 27 countries in Europe that work together to promote peace and prosperity. It was founded so that the countries in Europe could collaborate more closely and solve problems together. An important part of the EU is the single market, where people, goods, services, and money can move freely between the member countries. This means, for example, that one can travel from Germany to France or shop in Italy without any problems. The EU also has its own currency, the Euro, which many, but not all, member countries use. The EU is concerned with many issues, such as environmental protection, security, and education. It even has its own parliament, where representatives from all member countries sit and make decisions together. In this way, the countries in Europe work together to make life better for all Europeans.