Date: 1935 -1936
Composer: Carl Orff
Period: Modern (1910-1949)
Review
Already 38 when he began composing Carmina Burana -- Songs from Benediktbeuern -- Orff was nearly 42 when it finally was produced. Despite the co-title "Secular Songs," he designed the work as a theater piece, a "scenic cantata" to be danced as well as sung and played. In addition to soprano, tenor, and baritone soloists, large, small, and boys' choruses, Carmina Burana is scored for triple winds and brass, five timpani, percussion for six players, celesta, two pianos, and strings. Bertil Wetzelsberger conducted the premiere on June 8, 1937, at Frankfurt am Main.
The texts were written mostly by goliards, itinerant scholars, and lapsed clerics during the Middle Ages -- medieval hippies, as it were, with skinheads mixed in. Preserved in a thirteenth century manuscript, these were discovered at a Bavarian monastery near the Passion Play town of Oberammergau in 1803 (Burana is a Latin neologism for Beuern, later Bayern: Bavaria in English). Written in low Latin, old German, and medieval French, most of the texts -- variously bawdy, sensuous, comic, mock-tragic, but usually erotic -- mock government and the church.
Carmina Burana is comprised of 26 sections in mostly major keys. A two-song choral Prolog, "Fortuna imperatrix mundi" (Fortune, Empress of the World), is about the ever-turning Wheel of Fortune that lifts man up only to cast him down. The next 22 sections are divided into three unequal parts.
First comes "Primo vere" (In springtime), nine frolicsome numbers that begin with small choir, then baritone solo, then full chorus. The concluding six are subtitled "Uf dem Anger" (On the lawn), commencing with a dance for orchestra; then a languorous waltz in for large and small choruses; another amatory adventure for both choruses to the accompaniment of sleigh bells and plucked violas; an ABA round dance that becomes Allegro molto midway, and finally a brief Allegro introduced by brass fanfares.
Next the music moves indoors -- "In taberna" (In the tavern) -- for a quartet of secular songs in praise of gluttony and drunkenness. A besotted goliard enumerates his amatory history, followed by a swan bewailing its mortality (in the person of a high tenor) while roasting on a spit. A tipsy abbot comes forward next, leading to a seditious melee for tipsy male choristers.
The concluding third is "Cour d'amours" (The court of love), whose ten parts tend to brevity; yet even when the music seems chaste, texts or subtexts are sexual, beginning with boys' chorus and a lovelorn soprano. After them, the solo baritone voices a courtier's despair. The soprano follows with "Stetit puella," about a pretty girl in a red tunic. The baritone sings a tale of planned seduction with choral punctuation, setting up the comedic encounter of male choristers and a maiden, a cappella. A lovestruck double chorus follows with piano/percussion accompaniment. The soprano's "In trutina" is torn between love and modesty, only to be overwhelmed by an erotic concatenation of everyone (excepting roasted solo tenor), pierced by the soprano's stratospheric "Dulcissime" (most sweet one, I give my all to you). The culmination of "Cour d'amours" is "Banziflor et Helena," another paean to Venus triumphant over virtue. Finally there's the repetition of "Fortuna, imperatrix mundi." ~ Roger Dettmer, All Music Guide
Albums with Complete Performances of the Work
20th Century Masterpieces [Box Set] 2008
André Previn: The Great Recordings 2009
Basics
Best by Farr
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana 2000
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana 1996
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana 2005
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana 1981
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana 1999
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana 1996
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana 1992
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana 1992
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana 1996
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana 1997
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana 1997
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana 1995
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana 1995
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana 2003
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana 2003
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana 2004
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana [Hybrid SACD] 2008
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana [Hybrid SACD] 1981
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana [SACD]
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana/Igor Stravinsky:The Firebird Suite 1994
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana; Holst: The Planets 1998
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana; Ravel: Boléro 1992
Carl Orff: The Ultimate Collection [Box Set] 2005
Carl Orff: Trionfi 1992
Carl Orff: Trionfi 1995
Carmina Burana & Great Classical Marches (Box Set) 1998
Carmina Burana: The Singers' Edition 2000
Classical Evolution: Orff: Carmina Burana 2002
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In Concert with the University of Illinois Symphonic Band: The Begian Years, Vol. 9
Lonely, Cryin', Only [#1] 1998
Orff: CARMINA BURANA 1999
Orff: Carmina Burana 1993
Orff: Carmina Burana
Orff: Carmina Burana 2005
Orff: Carmina Burana 1995
Orff: Carmina Burana 1974
Orff: Carmina Burana
Orff: Carmina Burana 2007
Orff: Carmina Burana
Orff: Carmina Burana
Orff: Carmina Burana
Orff: Carmina Burana 2001
Orff: Carmina Burana
Orff: Carmina Burana 2002
Orff: Carmina Burana 1984
Orff: Carmina Burana 1995
Orff: Carmina Burana 1991
Orff: Carmina Burana 1993
Orff: Carmina Burana 1994
Orff: Carmina Burana
Orff: Carmina Burana 1974
Orff: Carmina Burana
Orff: Carmina Burana 1987
Orff: Carmina Burana 1992
Orff: Carmina Burana
Orff: Carmina Burana 1997
Orff: Carmina Burana
Orff: Carmina Burana
Orff: Carmina Burana
Orff: Carmina Burana 1992
Orff: Carmina Burana 1995
Orff: Carmina Burana 1997
Orff: Carmina Burana 1996
Orff: Carmina Burana
Orff: Carmina Burana 1999
Orff: Carmina Burana 1992
Orff: Carmina Burana 1996
Orff: Carmina Burana 1997
Orff: Carmina Burana 1998
Orff: Carmina Burana 2000
Orff: Carmina Burana
Orff: Carmina Burana
Orff: Carmina Burana 1995
Orff: Carmina Burana 2000
Orff: Carmina Burana
Orff: Carmina Burana
Orff: Carmina Burana 1995
Orff: Carmina Burana 2001
Orff: Carmina Burana 1995
Orff: Carmina Burana 2002
Orff: Carmina Burana
Orff: Carmina Burana 1998
Orff: Carmina Burana 2001
Orff: Carmina Burana
Orff: Carmina Burana 1998
Orff: Carmina Burana 2003
Orff: Carmina Burana 1995
Orff: Carmina Burana 1995
Orff: Carmina Burana 1996
Orff: Carmina Burana 1991
Orff: Carmina Burana 2004
Orff: Carmina Burana (Cantiones Profanes)
Orff: Carmina Burana (Chamber Version)
Orff: Carmina Burana [Hybrid SACD] 2002
Orff: Carmina Burana, scenic cantata
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Orff: Carmina Burana, scenic cantata
Orff: Carmina Burana, scenic cantata
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Orff: Carmina Burana, scenic cantata 1993
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Orff: Carmina Burana; Catulli Carmina; Dithyrambi 1994
Orff: Carmina Burana; Catulli Carmina; Trionfo di Afrodite
Orff: Carmina Burana; Fauré: Pavane; Franck: Panis angelicus 2002
Orff: Carmina Burana; Stravinsky: Fireworks; Circus Polka 2001
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Orff:Carmina Burana 1996
Passion (20cd) 2003
Passion: Carmina Burana - Carl Orff 2003
Stockholm Philharmonic 75th Anniversary 1988
Stokowski Conducts Orff and Loeffler 2001
Stokowski: The Maverick Conductor 2009
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Cardio Classics - Orchestral Workout! 2009
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Greatest Hits: The Chorus 1996
Gurkha Parade 1998
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Les Plus Grands Choeurs du Monde 1999
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Mariage 2004
Massive Classics: Music You Can't Relax To 2003
Mega Cinema 2001
Movie Classics [Angel] 1996
Movie Classics [Public] 1997
Movie Classics: Music from Famous Films 2001
Movies: Greatest Hits 1994
Music for Fitness 2008
Music of The Seasons 1997
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Music of the World: Germany - Rhine Magic
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Nocturne Voices 2003
Now This Is Classic!, Vol. 1 1992
One Hit Wonders 2003
Opera At The Movies 1991
Opera's Greatest Songs 1995
Orchestral Excerpts for Bassoon, Vol. 2 1998
Orchestral Fireworks
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Orff: Carmina Burana Suite; Bird: Serenade for Wind Instruments; Reed: La Fiesta Mexicana 2006
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Phase 4 Experience Sampler 1996
Pier Palolo Pasolini 2007
Pier Paolo Pasolini 2008
Power: A Classical Music Collection 1988
Prelude: The Best of Charlotte Church 2002
Prelude: The Best of Charlotte Church [with Bonus DVD] 2002
Prima Donna 1993
Pure 2003
Pure Classic Moods 1996
Pure [Bonus CD] 2004
Pure [Includes Bonus Track] 2003
Radiant Voice of Barbara Bonney 2001
Ram Dam: Les titres les plus explosifs de la musique 2002
Relax: The World's Most Beautiful Music 2008
Relaxing with the Classics 1998
Remasterpiece 2005
Roll Over Beethoven 2008
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S úctou / A Vocal Tribute 2004
Schubert, Auber, Mendelssohn and others... 1997
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Simply Soundtracks 2006
Simply the Best Classical Anthems
Sounds of Excellence: 200 Greatest Classics, Vol. 11 2000
Stockholm University Singers 1989
Summon the Heroes 1996
Sunday in the Park: Beautiful Classical Music 2000
Symphony on the Green 1993
TV Commercial Classics 2008
Telarc Classical: Celebrating 25 Years 2002
Telarc Collection, Vol. 7 1993
Telarc SACD Sampler: The Absolute Sound 2006
Telarc Sampler, Vol. 2 1984
The #1 Choral Album 2002
The #1 Classical Album 2002
The #1 Soprano Album 2002
The 1st Classical Promenade 2007
The Beautiful Voice 1998
The Best Choral Album in the World... Ever 1999
The Best Choral Album in the World...Ever! 1999
The Best Classical Album in the World... Ever! 1995
The Best Classics...Ever! 2005
The Best of 25 Classical Favorites 2001
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The Charlotte Church Show 2007
The Classic 100 [Box Set] 2008
The Classic 100, Vol. 2 2008
The Divine Feminine 2006
The Dream Collection
The Elkins High School Bands 2002-2003 Highlights
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The Fantasy Album 2002
The Flying Dutchman 2005
The Flying Dutchman [CD+DVD] 2005
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The Greatest Cinema Choral Classics 2006
The Greatest Classical Show On Earth 1998
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The Instruments of the Orchestra: Percussion
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The Most Unforgettable Advertisements Ever 1995
The Most Unforgettable German Classics Ever 2000
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The Sampler, Vol. 2
The Ultimate Classics 2001
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Unforgettable Classics: Exciting Classics 1999
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Wedding Classics: The Ideal Soundtrack for a Great Wedding Celebration 2001
World of Lullabies
World's Greatest Choruses 1992
Y2K: A Doomsday Collection for the Coming Crash 1999
