Just One More Daughter outta' Elysium, Singing in Beethoven Ninth Symphony

I studied Russian and Romance languages in school and had no appreciation for the emphatic first syllables of the German language, before I first sang in Beethoven's 9'th. Though the words to this music are gorgeous, performing this work with a mass of other voices goes beyond words. Luckily for me, the Stanford Summer Chorus* is singing it this summer. Every Tuesday night I can hop on my cruiser bike, pedal on over and become a part of the vocals behind it. No matter what else is going on, once I get there, Alle Menschen once more werden Brüder. And pedaling home through the darkness of a California summer night, I'm just one more daughter outta' Elysium.

Please CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE to see the lovely detail

Freude, schöner Götterfunken Tochter aus Elysium, Wir betreten feuertrunken, Himmlische, dein Heiligtum! Deine Zauber binden wieder Was die Mode streng geteilt; Alle Menschen werden Brüder, Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt. * Peninsula Cantare is my normal chorus

Joy, beautiful spark of divinity Daughter of Elysium, We enter, drunk with fire, Into your sanctuary, heavenly daughter! Your magic reunites What custom strictly divided. All men become brothers, Where your gentle wing rests.