ode to joy (flashmob style)

Last year I was lucky enough to spend several hours with Benjamin Zander in the Green Room at The UP Experience. We were both speaking at the event and we had the opportunity to talk about music and hope (our topics for the day). As he closed his talk, the entire audience was standing singing Beethoven’s Ode to Joy in German (he handed out the lyrics) as he conducted. 

I fell completely in love with Ode to Joy (and Benjamin Zander)!

Charlie recently learned a very simple version of the music in his piano class. That's him and his piano partner in the picture above! I think that picture just screams JOY! Now Charlie plays Ode to Joy for me every morning. It's such a great way to start the day.  

I came across this yesterday and thought you might like it. It gives me goosebumps and makes me happy! You can watch Benjamin Zander's TED talk here. 

The event was sponsord by Spain’s Banco Sabadell. Featuring Vallès Symphony Orchestra, the choirs of Lieder and Friends of l’Opera and the Choral Belles Arts. It's conducted by Josef Vila Casañas.

Comments

[Sandy]

goosebumps and a BIG smile !!!

[Wendy]

Love this much! Especially when it shows the kids conducting in the audience. Beautiful!

[Michele]

My soon to be 4th grader has chosen to play the cello next year in band. We don't have much cello experience as a family! This video was great!!!

[Carrie]

Wow! I loved this. What struck me is how lovely it was to see all the children involved and enjoying classical music. I really love mankind's ability to create something beautiful, there is a real spirituality about humans connecting thru creativity.

[Lance Roth]

U have no idea how my soul neede this! I have not stopped crying these past 15 minutes - oh how my whole being is just yearning for unadulterated joy! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! and blessings to the artists.

[Travis B. Hartwell]

There is a reason the Ninth is the most moving piece of music in the world to me.

Goosebumps.

Just yesterday, I was tinkering out the Ode to Joy melody on the piano for my six year-old nephew. I told him that Beethoven wrote it when it was completely deaf and couldn't hear at all. The look on his face matches the amazement I feel every time I listen to this wonderful music.

[Elizabeth]

I love it!!!!!!!!!

[Joan]

So awesome. Displays the essence of beauty in our world. Will carry this with me and share with others. Thank you for sharing.

[The Errant Cook]

My all-time favorite piece of music. Yes, I'm totally crying right now. Shut up.

[Jo Stone]

Thank you !!! :DDD

[melody]

I am going to watch this every morning with my cup of tea. A blessing shared, thank you.

[meg]

Thanks for sharing this "pure joy". It is wonderful to see positive "mob" moments and this potential for joy in a country that is struggling with sky high unemployment - especially amongst the young. Thanks also for the link to the Benjamin Zander TED talk.

[Dianne Hofmann]

Shivers, tears, and overwhelming sense of unity. Music is a phenomenal force that permeates human boundaries. What a gift. Thank you for sharing this clip. I'm paying it forward.

[AEG]

Ahhh, Beethoven. There aren't many of his compositions that don't touch my heart in a special way. Ode to Joy is actually one of the lesser favorites for me, but I love the celebration it brings out in others. Thank you for sharing!

[Lori W]

fantastic!! you can just see the JOY on all faces...both participants and audience! LOVE it!

[Esther]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for sharing this.

[Lauren Noel]

Thank you SO much for posting this! Beautiful and inspiring!

[avisannschild]

Crying and laughing at the same time. Thank you so much for sharing this, Brené!

[Joanna Rusher]

Loved it, thanks! And thanks for the introduction to Benjamin Zander, it was inspirational.

[Kirsten Jean]

Tears of Joy for Ode to Joy!!! Yes, written when Beethoven was nearly deaf. Perfect inspiration to write a few more pages of the dissertation.
Thanks, Brene

[Cari K]

Pure. Awesomeness! Thank you for sharing!

[Concetta at Glittering Shards]

His Ted talk is just awesome - love the bit at the end where he asks if as parents, are we helping our children's eyes sparkle?

[donna]

wonderful! i joined an Oratorio choir this last year and so inspired by being a part of this choir and enjoyed singing in it! thanks for sharing this Brene!

[Lori]

Double goosebumps!!! Totally amazing!!!

[April]

Beautiful. Music is truly a universal language. Thanks for sharing!

[vallimai]

Wow.... truly beautiful luv the kid up the pole

[Catherine]

Thank you for sharing the flashmob and the TED talk.
Pure Joy!

[Tammy Tuterow]

Goosebump inducing indeed! Beautiful!!

[Carly]

The little girl in the pink jacket! Surely that experience would have changed her life - a coin in the busker's hat and suddenly THAT materialised before her. Lump in throat!

[Bridget Bufford]

Freude, schöner Götterfunken!

[ellen stevens]

As I sat enthralled, I felt a bit like the little girl standing up close to the conductor, eyes wide and heart captivated by the sound of joy. Only when the final notes rang out and the music stopped, did I finally hear myself laughing and crying and giving my own spontaneous applause. And that is when I realized how much I had needed those few moments of joy in my day. Thank you.

[Carly]

Oh, and - how amazing to see the child on the shoulders of the chorister dad!

[The Writing Goddess]

Weeping my own tears of joy. Simply splendid.

[Connie Allen]

Brene, thank you SO MUCH for bringing me back to a song that makes my heart sing! I downloaded my favorite version ...wish I could download Benjamin's...and now have a CD to listen to when I awaken. Brilliant idea!

[carolynj]

Just fantastic!! thanks so much for sharing, just a big blast of joy, what could be better :-)

[Francie]

Fabulous, one of my all time favorites, loved the children - especially the budding conductor on the lamp post!!

[Mary Sterk]

Fabulous video - what joy!!! Thaks for sharing!!

[J Cosmo Newbery]

Fan-flippin-tastic!

[Donna]

thx for introducing me to Benjamin....it has changed my life

[Pierre]

Opens a closed heart. Inspiring, wakens the spirit to beautiful thoughts, gives a smile with all those cheerfull looks. Thank you for sharing on this, now gorgeous Friday morning ;)

[Shannon]

Ah, Benjamin Zander! I was so excited as soon as I read his name - if you haven't read the book that he and his wife wrote 'The Art of Possibility' I highly highly recommend it. I re-read this book all the time because it really just makes me happy and open and thoughtful. I will watch this video clip as soon as I have a moment but I just had to put some love out there for Ben Zander :)

[Krista]

Wonderful!

[Emi Y]

Oh, how beautiful! This reminds me of the beauty in our world and have given me an uplifting start to my day!

[Carolyn]

Now if that doesn't put a giggle in your step and a smile on your face, I don't know what would. And those little baby conductors :-) :-) :-) :-)

[rosie browning]

Ode to Joy always bring me closer to God and I stand in awe of the power of this music. Whenever I am going through a tough time in my life, I play this over and over in my mind.

[Melanie]

Love any version of Ode to Joy I can get hold of--and now a visual to enjoy also! Love all the reactions...just wonder if this happened in my burg, what the reactions would be?! Love to see little kids "banging" on the piano...just like the video--the kids are just into the music with total abandon and do not care what others think. So free. Thanks for the post...all smiles!

[Julie]

I have been looking for ways to have more joy in my life, and while i haven't listened to the video yet, the thought of singing "An Ode to Joy" is great, thank you.

[Kathryn]

Thank you so much for posting this! It's my favourite piece of music in the whole world and to see it done flash mob style made me burst into tears of joy. More wonderful things like this should be done flashmob style!

[Boris S. S.]

Brené Brown, I Love You!
Every time I come across one of your posts - be that on facebook, twitter, or directly on your site - I immediately begin to feel like it's Christmas Morning! Your TED video, The Power of Vulnerability, is a permanent resident on my BlackBerry, for life. No matter how many times I watch it, your words and the honesty with which you convey your message never fail to make me laugh a little, and tear up a little, and above all think; in other words, feel vulnerable and be grateful for it. As for your latest TED talks video, Listening To Shame - it's just brilliant! Bravo!
You know how we all have these little sayings that everyone gets, e.g., "Go to the mattresses." ;) Well, my family and friends have become accustomed to a couple of sayings of my own. Whenever there's something out of joint and I'm clearly not in the kind of emotional state I'd rather be, I just say ~ "Oh, I need me a dose of Brené Brown", or "It's Brené Brown time". And they know it means that I'll be gone for some time and when I'm back I'll be shining like a golden coin and everything will be alright.
With this post, Ode to Joy, you've worked your magic, once again. The video, indeed, gives goosebumps and makes one want to smile broadly. So, thank you for all the joy and emotional equilibrium you bring to so many. Keep on sharing your ideas and stories, dear lady. And all the best in your future endeavours as a brilliant "researcher-storyteller" ;)

[Femke Joy]

I absolutely love this.... How connection thorough music spreads Joy.... Beautiful... Love from the Netherlands..