Olympische Hymne

Early in 1933, Strauss agreed to compose an Olympic Hymn, with the condition that a suitable text be found to set to music.

The IOC however accepted Lewald's proposal to allow Germany its own Olympic anthem for the Berlin games.

Lubahn (1903–1974), an unemployed Berlin actor at the time, received 1,000 Reichsmark on September 22, 1934 for his poem.

Wie nun alle Herzen schlagen in erhobenem Verein, soll in Taten und in Sagen Eidestreu das Höchste sein.

Pride and prosperity of many countries came forward to fight hard; All the fire which burns there, pulses together, high and free.

The principal music theme was derived from a major symphony Strauss planned but never finished.

Strauss wrote disparagingly of the work to his librettist Stefan Zweig: "I am whiling away the boredom of the advent season by composing an Olympic Hymn for the plebs—I of all people, who hate and despise sports.

The composer originally demanded 10,000 Reichsmark for the commission, but agreed to waive the fee altogether following negotiations with Lewald.

During the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the composer invited members of the IOC executive board to hear the work sung by an opera star from Munich.

The premiere was held on August 1, 1936, at the opening ceremonies of the 1936 Summer Olympics at the Olympic Stadium (Berlin), with the Berlin Philharmonic augmented by the National Socialist Symphony Orchestra and a chorus of one thousand members attired in white.

From the distinguished visitor section on the opposite side of the stadium to the musicians, Theodor Lewald stepped onto a rostrum to address the nearly 4,000 athletes from 49 nations who had just marched in.

After a short opening proclamation by Adolf Hitler, and an artillery salute and the release of several thousand white pigeons, Richard Strauss conducted the Olympische Hymne at 5:16 p.m.

Strauss's hand-written full orchestra score was dedicated to Theodor Lewald "in memory of 1 August 1936".