Joyful ode to workers
by Mehak Dugal
 
The event takes place on European Music Day, Sunday 21st June, and everyone is encouraged to perform on their doorstep or in a public space while maintaining safe physical distancing.
The event takes place on European Music Day, Sunday 21st June, and everyone is encouraged to perform on their doorstep or in a public space while maintaining safe physical distancing.

Music organisations around Ireland have invited every person in the nation to participate in a special performance of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy (Óid don Lúcháire), in a tribute to our essential workers.

 

The event takes place on European Music Day, Sunday 21st June, and everyone is encouraged to perform on their doorstep or in a public space while maintaining safe physical distancing.

 

The event will commence with Ireland’s finest musicians and singers performing the much-loved piece by Beethoven on the steps of the National Concert Hall at 6pm. This will be livestreamed and, at the conclusion of this special performance, the public is invited to perform their own tribute version to essential workers.

 

Catherine Ann Cullen, Poetry Ireland’s Poet in Residence, has written new lyrics to accompany Beethoven’s piece for this special tribute.

 

The invitation calls for people across all age groups to get involved and perform in whatever genre of music they prefer, whether it be classical, jazz, pop or hip-hop.

 

Fórsa members are also encouraged to take part in the event to thank and pay tribute to all essential workers, including the health staff, firefighters, social care workers and social protection staff working in higher risk areas for most part of the crisis.

 

You can also share your performance and watch others on social media using the hashtag #OdeToJoyIE. It is expected that over 600,000 musicians from all over the country will take part.

 

Be inspired

 

Check out this very special public performance of Ode to Joy, filmed last year in the Spanish city of Sabadell, HERE. More information on the event, along with the sheet music here and lyrics to help prepare for it can be found here.

 

 

Read Fórsa’s advice on returning to your workplace HERE

 

 

 

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact us HERE.

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