A meditation on art, idealism and power, the composition performed is the 4th movement of Beethoven’s famous 9th Symphony, known as ‘Ode to Joy’ and widely understood as a hymn to humanity, a testament to human fraternity and brotherhood. This ever-popular piece of classical music has been co-opted throughout its history by proponents of diverse and conflicting politics and ideologies – from nationalists to dictators, demagogues and its more recent adoption as the official anthem of the European Union in 1985. In Allora and Calzadilla’s variation, the work is recognisable but incomplete, as the cut renders two octaves of the piano inoperable and the resulting keys leave only a hollow resonance.