The rest of Carmina Burana

[TheRuleOfThirds 0]

Over the years, I've had a love-hate thing for Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. You can't help but love "O Fortuna", Orff's claim to fame, but the rest of the work doesn't sound very much like that, with the exception of "Fortuna plango vulnera."

So for those of you who have heard it, what do you think? Is it a classic or should you just listen to "O Fortuna" and be done with it?

I myself am not sure if it's a classic, but it certainly is worth repeated listening. It was composed in the 1930s, so it bears similarities to more traditional film scores--like Star Wars--which is probably what draws me in. Some of it, I suppose reminds me of Khachaturian's Gayane Ballet, but with more texture and variety. Gayane's pretty consistent with the Middle Eastern vibe and that's the set style. With CB, though, it's pretty much all over the radar. You've got a piece like "O Fortuna" that sounds like an epic war centerpiece, but then you've got these other pieces that sound more like pieces from your church's Christmas pageant.

Basically, I like it because of the variety, but it also gets old after a while, I think. "Fortuna plango vulnera" is definitely underrated. You should hear that just as much as "O Fortuna." Whenever I listen to it, I can't help but think of Stukas dive-bombing some little town in Europe. From what I understand, the Nazis liked Carmina Burana. Ironically, in 1966, it was performed in Israel too.

So there's my thoughts.

[Greg1138 3]

Get hold of an English translation of the libretto.......it's hysterical......

[pixie_twinkle 60]

It's a classic. There's something eerie and haunting about the quieter pieces, especially the bizarre tenor solo sung from the perspective of the roasted swan!

[John McClane 1]

I love "O Fortuna", it's one of the most amazing stuff I've ever heard (among the classical composers).

The rest is good, but nothing really memorable to me.

[Miz 152]

I heard Carmina Burana live recently at the Royal Albert Hall with the biggest ensemble I've ever seen. Of course, O Fortuna blew me away but I have mixed feelings about the rest. I have my favourite movements, but as a whole I feel the work is a bit incoherent and ideologically lightweight...it's about life and love, but it never really has much to say.

As for the music, I find the percussion more interesting than the choir, the repetition in the verses is not my taste (being raised on such varied film score) but Ave Fortissima into O Fortuna finale was certainly a brilliant way to end it all.

[Greg1138 3]

"Shopkeeper, give me colour

to make my cheeks red,

so that I can make the young men

love me, against their will.

Look at me,

young men!

Let me please you!

Good men, love

women worthy of love!

Love ennobles your spirit

and gives you honour.

Look at me,

young men!

Let me please you!

Hail, world,

so rich in joys!

I will be obedient to you

because of the pleasures you afford.

Look at me,

young men!

Let me please you!"

Full translation here.....and is really rude!

[Marian Schedenig 11,695]

So for those of you who have heard it, what do you think?  Is it a classic or should you just listen to "O Fortuna" and be done with it?

It's one of those works that's horribly mis-represented by just playing one track over and over at every occasion and more or less completely ignoring the rest. Strauss' Also sprach Zarathustra suffers the same fate. Both are outstanding works as a whole, great from beginning to end, but many people probably don't even know there's more than the opening bit.

Marian - as always recommending the Jochum recording.

[Marcus 395]

I really think Carl Orff's opening "O Fortuna" chorus far outshines the rest of the cantata, and far outshines the rest of his catalog... It is one of those rare instances where a lesser composer happens to stumble upon something truly profound, something epic and truthful that immediately finds a place in musical "mythology".

The opening chords, and most of the chorus, is perfection, and leaves nothing to be desired orchestrationally or formally, and certainly not in terms of musical content. Then it really sort of does go downhill from there, though there are nice snippets throughout.

And Richard Strauss' "Also Sprach..." doesn't quite live up to its opening, even though it is a wnoderfully put together symphonic poem. But he just gets a little "clever", but musically quite bland after a while (which almost always happens with Strauss), and covers up his weak musical moments with amazing orchestrations.

Which is fine.

[nightscape94 968]

And Richard Strauss' "Also Sprach..." doesn't quite live up to its opening...

Craziness!

The string serenade the follows the opening is haunting and almost hurtful in its beauty. Actually, I find the opening bombast to be less interesting then many aspects of the complete tone poem, which I've seen performed live 3 times now. It's one of my favorite musical pieces, and one of the the most familiar to me as I've heard it a few dozen times. I love it! 8O

Tim

[orrakul 0]

and covers up his weak musical moments with amazing orchestrations

Then, aren't these amazing moments?

(I really like the string serenade of this piece).

[Marian Schedenig 11,695]

Craziness!  8O  

The string serenade the follows the opening is haunting and almost hurtful in its beauty.  Actually, I find the opening bombast to be less interesting then many aspects of the complete tone poem, which I've seen performed live 3 times now.  It's one of my favorite musical pieces, and one of the the most familiar to me as I've heard it a few dozen times.  I love it!  

To Tim you listen. And I have similar feelings about CB: O Fortuna is great, but what makes it so much greater than the rest? Fortune plango vulnera, Ecce gratum, the whole Uf them anger, the whole In taberna, Circa mea pectora, Veni, veni, venias, Tempus est iocundum... and those are just the higlights.

They're not all bombast, but they're still wonderful. I wouldn't want to listen to 60 minutes of strictly O Fortuna-type writing.

Marian - who should hear one of Orff's operas someday.

[pixie_twinkle 60]

I really think Carl Orff's opening "O Fortuna" chorus far outshines the rest of the cantata, and far outshines the rest of his catalog...

Especially when it's used as the main theme in The Omen. :roll:

James-who wants to kill the guys who wrote the Trivial Pursuit questions every time he reads that!

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,388]

Those pieces could not be more different in style and tone.

Trivial indeed....