Archives for February 2nd, 2005

What’s the sound of one ear bleeding?

To celebrate Slovenia ratifying the EU constitution yesterday, I dug up an old mp3 from last May. It features Austrian and Slovenian brass bands performing the European anthem together at the border. (Specifically, between the border towns of Gornja Radgona and Bad Radkersburg.)

The European anthem, if you don’t know, is an extract from the fourth movement of Beethoven’s 9th symphony, and was officially adopted by the EU in 1985. The occasion of this particular performance was Slovenia’s entry into the European Union on May 1, 2004.

The mp3 is here. (1.4 MB  Right click, save as…)

Some important reminders:

1) Yes, they’re adults.
2) Yes, the audience could probably sue Austria and Slovenia for violating the Geneva Conventions.
3) Yes, they’d probably win.