Imagine How Beethoven Himself Might Have Enjoyed This Spectacular Display.
It’s often said that everything is larger in Texas, but reconsider. Do you believe the Rockin’ 1000 is just a large musical ensemble? Think again. Since 1983, an annual gathering of 10,000 singers has come together each December in Japan to perform the choral finale of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. When you include the orchestra members, the result is an awe-inspiring performance.
The video below was filmed in December 2011 and is led by Yutaka Sado, who has served as the choir’s General Director and conductor since 1999. Yutaka Sado, a Japanese conductor trained by Seiji Ozawa and Leonard Bernstein, was appointed Music Director of Austria’s oldest orchestra, the Tonkünstler Orchestra (established in 1907), in 2015.
Jonathan Lauzon succinctly remarks, “Composed by a German legend, sung by a Japanese multitude, gave chills to a Canadian nobody.” GoodVibes1997 states, “As a German, I’m impressed by the perfect pronunciation, the orchestra & the sheer number of musical talent.” The singing quality is even more impressive considering that most participants are amateurs supporting professional soloists and a chamber choir. With more applicants than available spots, being chosen is a special honor.
In Japan, Beethoven’s Ninth has become linked with the Christmas season. Across shopping malls, community centers, and concert halls, there are hundreds of performances of the Ninth Symphony. Many feature singalongs to the “Ode to Joy,” the choral segment of the symphony’s fourth movement, symbolizing peace, hope, and joy. The text of the choral section is based on a 1785 poem by Friedrich Schiller. Below is a touching mini documentary about the yearly Ode to Joy performance involving 10,000 singers.
Within the documentary, conductor Yutaka Sado insightfully observes that “having 10 000 singers is amazing, but if they’re not into it, it would be depressing. I need to make them feel like they’re not one of 10 000; that everyone has the main role. That’s been my biggest challenge from the first year and still is today.”
The tale of the inaugural performance of Beethoven’s Ninth in Japan has become legendary. This event took place during the final phases of World War One. Around 1,000 German prisoners of war were held at Bando Camp. The camp was managed humanely, fostering sports and cultural interactions between the prisoners, Japanese guards, and local residents. A German prisoner, Paul Engel, was permitted to teach music within the camp and twice a week was allowed to conduct lessons for interested Japanese individuals outside the camp.
It seems the camp developed two orchestras, each with 45 members, two brass bands, and two choirs of sixty members each. Over 80 prisoners dedicated months to perfecting Beethoven’s Ninth, which was performed in Barrack One of Bando camp on June 1, 2018, marking the first rendition in Japan.
The tradition of the 10,000-strong Daiku (meaning nine, referring to Beethoven’s 9th) continued through the pandemic. In 2020, marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, the event was held virtually for the first time. Singers worldwide submitted videos, resulting in 11,961 singing clips alongside the live orchestra. In 2021, the event was presented as a hybrid of live and virtual performances. Have a look:
Regarding the Japanese affection for the choral part of Ode To Joy, Toshiaki Kamei, the director of the All-Japan Association of Daiku Choral Societies, states “Nowadays, we observe many conflicts between different religions or different ethnic groups happening around the world. We believe singing Daiku together with people from various cultural backgrounds helps us learn to accept diversity and promote world peace.
