The melody used to symbolise the EU comes from the Ninth Symphony, composed in 1823 by Ludwig van Beethoven when he set music to the "Ode to Joy", Friedrich von Schiller's lyrical
![On the Literature and Thought of the German Classical Era - 10. Schiller's ' Ode to Joy' - Open Book Publishers On the Literature and Thought of the German Classical Era - 10. Schiller's ' Ode to Joy' - Open Book Publishers](https://books.openedition.org/obp/docannexe/image/22095/img-1.jpg)
On the Literature and Thought of the German Classical Era - 10. Schiller's ' Ode to Joy' - Open Book Publishers
![Ode to Joy (Miniature book) by Friedrich VON SCHILLER - Hardcover - No. 91 - 1987 - from Attic Books (SKU: 122784) Ode to Joy (Miniature book) by Friedrich VON SCHILLER - Hardcover - No. 91 - 1987 - from Attic Books (SKU: 122784)](https://d3525k1ryd2155.cloudfront.net/h/304/970/1247970304.0.x.jpg)
Ode to Joy (Miniature book) by Friedrich VON SCHILLER - Hardcover - No. 91 - 1987 - from Attic Books (SKU: 122784)
![Friedrich von Schiller 's play 'Kabale und Liebe' . German poet and dramatist 10 November 1759 - 9 May 1805. Intrigue and Love (1784). Wrote ' Ode to Joy' (Beethoven 's ninth symphony). Engraving by Chodowiecki Stock Photo - Alamy Friedrich von Schiller 's play 'Kabale und Liebe' . German poet and dramatist 10 November 1759 - 9 May 1805. Intrigue and Love (1784). Wrote ' Ode to Joy' (Beethoven 's ninth symphony). Engraving by Chodowiecki Stock Photo - Alamy](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/JF7E8K/friedrich-von-schiller-s-play-kabale-und-liebe-german-poet-and-dramatist-JF7E8K.jpg)