More recently, its principal conductors have included Pierre Monteux (1961–64), Istvan Kertesz (1965–68), André Previn (1968–79) and Claudio Abbado (1979–88). From 1988-1995, the American Michael Tilson-Thomas took over, and in 1995, became principal guest conductor. Sir Colin Davis served as the LSO's Principal Conductor from 1995-2006, and in 2007 took the post of President of the orchestra. On 1 January 2007, Valery Gergiev became the LSO's Principal Conductor. Previn holds the title of Conductor Laureate. In 2006, Daniel Harding became the co-principal guest conductor alongside Tilson Thomas. Richard Hickox is the Associate Guest Conductor of the LSO.
The LSO became the first British orchestra to play overseas when it went to Paris in 1906. The LSO was due to sail on the RMS Titanic for a concert in New York in April 1912 but fortunately had to change the booking at the last minute. It was also the first to play in the United States, in 1912, and in 1973 it was the first to be invited to take part in the Salzburg Festival. It continues to make tours around the world.
In 1966 the London Symphony Chorus (LSC) was formed to complement the work of the LSO. with more that two hundred amateur singers, the LSC maintains a close association with the LSO; however it has developed an independent life, which allows it to partner other leading orchestras.
The LSO has long been considered the most extraverted of the London orchestras. For most of its life it refused to allow women to become members, ostensibly on the grounds that women would affect the sound of the orchestra (there has been a similar controversy at the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra). There is an air of youthful high spirits to much of its music-making that is shown off in performances of such composers as Berlioz and Prokofiev. The LSO has often had internationally-known players as wind soloists, including such artists as James Galway (flute), Gervase de Peyer (clarinet), Roger Lord (oboe), Osian Ellis (harp), John Georgiadis (violin) and Barry Tuckwell (horn). Like most ensembles, the orchestra has a great ability to vary its sound, producing very different tone colours under such diverse conductors as Stokowski (with whom it made a series of memorable recordings), Adrian Boult, Jascha Horenstein, Georg Solti, André Previn, George Szell, Claudio Abbado, Leonard Bernstein, John Barbirolli, and Karl Böhm, who developed a close relationship with the orchestra late in his life. Böhm and Bernstein each held the title of LSO President in their later years.
Clive Gillinson, a former cellist with the orchestra, served as the LSO's Managing Director from 1984 to 2005, and is widely credited with bringing great stability to the LSO's organization after severe fiscal troubles.[1] Since 2005, Kathryn McDowell is the Managing Director of the LSO.[2]
Joy To The World
London Symphony Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was a good friend of mine
I never understood a single word he said
But I helped him a-drink his wine
And he always had some mighty fine wine
Singin'
Joy to the world
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
If I were the king of the world
Tell you what I'd do
I'd throw away the cars and the bars and the war
Make sweet love to you
Sing it now
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
You know I love the ladies
Love to have my fun
I'm a high life flyer and a rainbow rider
A straight shootin' son-of-a-gun
I said a straight shootin' son-of-a-gun
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the world
Joy to you and me
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls now
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
I want to tell you
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
The lyrics to Joy To The World are playful yet profound. They begin with a reference to Jeremiah, who is described as a bullfrog and a good friend of the singer, despite their inability to understand each other. They then move on to a proclamation of joyful celebration for all, including the fishes in the deep blue sea. The final verse takes a romantic turn, with the singer expressing the desire to throw away material possessions and make sweet love to their partner. The refrain of "Joy to the world" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the unbridled bliss that the singer is experiencing.
On one level, the song can be interpreted as a simple celebration of life and love. The repetition of the phrase "Joy to the world" reinforces the idea that happiness is a universal experience that should be shared by all. On a deeper level, the song can be seen as an expression of the human desire for a utopian society where war, materialism, and all forms of conflict are eliminated. By ending the song with the line "Joy to the world, all the boys and girls," the singer is inviting everyone to participate in this vision of a peaceful, joyful world.
Line by Line Meaning
Jeremiah was a bullfrog
Jeremiah was a person whom the singer knew as a good friend
Was a good friend of mine
The singer had a close relationship with Jeremiah
I never understood a single word he said
Jeremiah spoke in a way that the singer couldn't comprehend
But I helped him a-drink his wine
The singer and Jeremiah had wine together, and the singer assisted in finishing the drinks
And he always had some mighty fine wine
Jeremiah provided high-quality wine whenever they had a drink together
Singin' Joy to the world
The singer begins to sing a song called 'Joy to the world'
All the boys and girls now
The singer addresses everyone, regardless of gender or age
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
The singer expresses a message of joy to all creatures in the ocean
Joy to you and me
The singer extends joy to himself and all his listeners
If I were the king of the world
The singer presents a hypothetical situation in which he holds an authoritative position globally
Tell you what I'd do
The singer explains what he would do if he were a world leader
I'd throw away the cars and the bars and the war
The singer would eliminate transportation, bars, and warfare
Make sweet love to you
The singer suggests that he would make love to his listener
Sing it now
The singer urges the listeners to sing along
You know I love the ladies
The singer confesses his love for women
Love to have my fun
The singer enjoys engaging in pleasurable activities with women
I'm a high life flyer and a rainbow rider
The singer describes himself as someone who loves the high life and riding on rainbows
A straight shootin' son-of-a-gun
The singer prides himself on being honest and straightforward
Joy to the world
The song's chorus is repeated, expressing a message of joy to everything and everyone
I want to tell you
The singer expresses a desire to communicate something important to the listener
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, FRED BOCK MUSIC CO.,INC.
Written by: Isaac Watts
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nur Afifah
OMG.. even I'm not a Christian, I do love love love this beautiful Joy to the World <3
MuhiBashir
Makes two of us...MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Shin-i-chi Kozima
Merry christmas 😃
No matter what happens ,
christmas songs will resound around the world .
Petra Sinaga
Praise The Lord
Joy to the world, The Lord has come
God bless us
Susy Zaira Flores Torres
esta musica rejaja♡♡♥
Ziz
Baby jesus ..you live in every beating heart in this world..merry christmas everyone.
Krista Monique
Change tempo to 1.5... it sounds wonderful!
Melisa Montecino
Too slow