Olympic fanfare

An Olympic fanfare is a piece of music that was composed for the Olympic Games and is performed as a signal in the opening ceremony.

history

Pierre de Coubertin , the initiator of the modern Olympic Games, once wrote: “Music and sport have always been the perfect 'isolators' for me. They had a stimulating effect on the mind and imagination, and strengthened my perseverance to the greatest possible extent. ”Music plays an important role in the ritual of the games, not only at the opening and closing ceremonies, but throughout the course of the event.

The Olympic fanfare is traditionally heard during the opening ceremony when the Olympic flag is raised .

Well-known composers

• Paul Winter - 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin
• Akira Miyoshi - 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo
• Herbert Rehbein - Olympic Summer Games 1972 in Munich
• John Williams - 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles , 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul , Summer Olympic Games 1996 in Atlanta and Olympic Winter Games 2002 in Salt Lake City

literature

• Elizabeth Key: On the role of music in the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games from 1896 to 1972 . Dissertation, German Sport University Cologne Germany.