1. COMPOSER: CARL ORFF
CARMINA BURANA

2. COMPOSITION FOR ORCHESTRA, CHORUS AND SOLOISTS BY
CARL ORFF (1895-1982)
BASED ON GOLIARD POEMS IN LATIN FROM 13TH CENTURY
20TH CENTURY USES IN MEDIA: COMMERCIALS, SPORTING
EVENTS, MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS, MOVIES – “EXCALIBER”
AND “GLORY”
CARMINA BURANA (1937)

3. POETRY IS 800 YEARS OLD, IN LATIN AND FOUND IN A
BENEDICTINE MONASTERY IN GERMANY
CARMINA BURANA

4. POEMS COMPRISE OF RELIGIOUS,
POLITICAL, MORAL , SECULAR AND
SATIRICAL VERSES IN LATIN.
MOST IMPORTANT SOURCE OF LATIN,
SECULAR POETRY OF THE 13TH CENTURY.
CARMINA BURANA

5. THE MUSIC OF “CARMINA BURANA” IS COMPRISED OF:
• DRIVING RHYTHMS
• CHANTS
• MEDIEVAL ORGANUM
CARMINA BURANA
ENTIRE COMPOSITION IS BASED ON 24
POEMS (24 MUSICAL SELECTIONS) AND A
REPRISE ENDING (RETURN TO FIRST POEM).

6. O FORTUNA

7. 1. O Fortuna
(Chorus)
O Fortune
O Fortuna,
velut Luna
statu variabilis,
semper crescis
aut decrescis;
vita detestabilis
nunc obdurat
et tunc curat
ludo mentis aciem,
egestatem,
potestatem
dissolvit ut glaciem.
O Fortune!
Like the moon
ever-changing,
rising first
then declining;
hateful life
treats us badly
then with kindness
making sport with our desires,
causing power
and poverty alike
to melt like ice.

8. Sors immanis
et inanis,
rota tu volubilis,
status malus,
vana salus
semper dissolubilis,
obumbrata
et velata
michi quoque niteris;
nunc per ludum
dorsum nudum
fero tui sceleris.
Dread destiny
and empty fate,
an ever-turning wheel,
who make adversity
and fickle health
alike turn to nothing,
in the dark
and secretly
you work against me;
how through your trickery
my naked back
is turned to you unarmed.

9. Sors salutis
et virtutis
michi nunc contraria.
est affectus
et defectus
semper in angaria.
Hac in hora
sine mora
corde pulsum tangite;
quod per sortem
sternit fortem,
mecum omnes plangite!
Good fortune
and strength
now are turned from me.
Affection
and defeat
are always on duty.
Come now,
pluck the strings
without delay;
and since by fate
the strong are overthrown
weep ye all with me.