Carmina Burana Study Guide

More Than Notes
Student Study Guide
Carl Orff
Carmina Burana
MAY 17, 2015 | 8:00 PM
KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL
Once you have experienced the choral work
Carmina Burana, it will become a part of you.
Its pulsing, pounding rhythms will pull you
into another worlda primitive world where
you can celebrate the most basic human
emotions: joy and pain, lust and tenderness,
laughter and tears. Even the composer Carl
Orff recognized the thrilling masterpiece he
had created after its 1937 premiere. Following
the first performance, Orff boasted to his
publisher:
Everything I have written to date,
and which you have unfortunately printed,
can be destroyed. With Carmina Burana,
my collected works begin.
Carl Orff with a manuscript of Carmina Burana
A Brilliant Storyteller
Carl Orff was born in Munich*, Germany, in 1895 and died there in 1982. He made two enormous
contributions to the world of musicthe exciting choral work, Carmina Burana, and the Orff-Schulwerk
system of music education that is used all over the world.
As a child, Orff immediately revealed his creative tendencies through music and storytelling. At age 5,
he studied cello, piano, and organ. He practiced his music by composing and performing musical dramas
for his family. By age 10, he had also become a published author in a German childrens magazine.
2015 The Choral Arts Society of Washington | choralarts.org
*see glossary
Family Fiasco
He continued exploring the realms of musical composition through his

teens until he was selected as Kapellmeister (music director) at the famed
Muenchener Kammerspiele, a successful theatre in Munich*.
After his brief military service in World War I, Orff continued his music career
A
in Mannheim*. He later returned to Munich* and founded the Guenther
School for gymnastics, music, and dance. It was there he developed his
very own method of music education that he published in 1930.
Lost in
Translation
Carl and Godela Orff ((1921))
According to interviews with BBC,

Orff did not pay much attention to
the women in his life. He married
four times because he wanted to
be looked after, and was unable
to sustain a positive relationship
with his only daughter, Godela.
Critical Carl
Illustrations of Goliards* within

Cantigas de Santa Maria
Carmina
Burana
literally
translates to Songs of Beuren
and refers to a collection of songs
and poems from the 12th century.
This vast collection of over one
thousand texts was performed
by a band of poets and scholars
called the Goliards*. They wrote
in a mix of Latin, medieval*
French, and German. Carl Orff
was so fascinated by content
of Songs of Beuren, that he
chose to compose new music for
twenty-four of the texts he found.
Although
the music alone allows you to feel the power of Carmina Burana,
A
it is very helpful to re-listen to Carmina Burana while reading translations.
Through
the text you can see and hear how Orff tried to express the vulgar,
T
earthy, and celebratory themes of the Songs of Beuren.
German opera Wozzeck

by Alban Berg
Carl Orff vigorously refused to

have his work categorized as
opera during his lifetime, referring
to operas as pageants for the
stage.
2
O Fortuna!
The people of the 12th century lived lives of inconceivable simplicity in
todays world. People often never left the village in which they were
born, few could read or write, and modern sciences like medicine and
biology were not well-understood. For this reason, many citizens relied
on the ancient philosophies of fate and fortune to explain everyday life.
The wandering Goliards* often served as

teachers of these concepts through their
descriptive songs and poems. They used
their lyrics to describe the fickle nature
of health, cruelty of fate, joys of drinking,
and pleasures of love.
Global Impact
Lady Fortune spinning her wheel,
Boccaccio
Or and Education
In addition to his successful career as
a composer, Carl Orff also exhibited a
passion for music education. In 1924,
he co-founded a school of gymnastics,
music, and dance where he worked
with musical beginners. With his new
students, Orff explored the relationships
between movement, rhythm, percussion,
and music literacy. These concepts
became an essential part of his teaching
philosophy that he published in a manual
titled Schulwerk.
Today the Orff-Schulwerk method

T
iis world-renown and successfully
iimplemented throughout the world.
IIt is built upon the idea that music
sstudents learn best when immersed
iin percussion, speech, singing, and
ddance. This technique of teaching
iis most recognizable in elementary
aand middle school classrooms that
ooften contain Orffs portable, barred
ppercussion instruments.
C lO
ff tteaches
h children
hild
Carl
Orff
on
specially designed barred instruments
Blue portions of map represent globally

recognized Orff-Schulwerk programs
Since its development in 1924,

the Orff approach to music
education has spread to millions
of students. Orff-Schulwerk now
has well-established professional
organizations for teachers in 38
countries.
Deadly Dig
Photograph of Carl Orff after his

military service (1917)
Carl Orff entered a nearly lethal

state of shock when his World
War I dugout collapsed, burying
him alive. He was deemed unfit
for duty, and discharged from the
military shortly after.
*see glossary
Lets Look at the Music!

Carmina Burana is separated into twenty-five movements and three themed sections. After the third
section, Orff repeats the opening verse, lamenting the cruelty of blind Fortune!
I.
II.
O Fortuna
Fortune plango vulnera
Primo Vere (Springtime)

III.
Veris leta facies
IV.
Omnia Sol temperat
V.
Ecce gratum
VI.
Tanz
VII.
Floret silva
VIII. Chramer gip die varwe mir
IX.
Reie
X.
Were diu werit alle min
In Taberna (In the Tavern*)

XI.
Estuans interius
XII. Olim lacus colueram
XIII. Ego sum abbas
XIV. In taberna quando sumus
Cour damours (The Courts of Love)

XV.
XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.
XIX.
XX.
XXI.
XXII.
XXIII.
XXIV.
XXV.
Amor volat undique

Dies, nox et Omnia
Stetit puella
Circa mea pectora
Si puer cum puella
Veni, veni, venias
In trutina
Tempus est iocundum
Dulcissme
Ave formosissima
O Fortuna
Notice the composers instructions about tempo*, style, and phrasing on the next page. The word
Pesante in the top left corner means to play like the sound of a tired and overworked peasant. Orff
includes a written breath mark after every two words, written as a large apostrophe. This adds to
the dramatic nature of this opening movement by giving the listener an extra second to anticipate
the oncoming explosion musical sound. Orff indicates multiple notes of divisi* for each voice part,
making this opening statement appear even more impressive and texturally complex.
Food for Thought...

1. Throughout this movement the composer calls for extremes in dynamics from the choir,
alternating between fortissimo* and a hushed pianissimo*. What might be the purpose of this
compositional technique?
2. What characteristics of the orchestral writing in the first movement help to paint the picture
of a spinning wheel of Fortune?
3. Why would Carl Orff choose to start and end Carmina Burana with the identical O Fortuna
music?
4. This piece is considered to be an example of musical primitivism*. After listening to the
performance and reading the definition of primitivism in the glossary , what aspects of
O Fortuna help to categorize the entire work as primitivism?
4
*see glossary
2015 The Choral Arts Society of Washington
Carmina Burana
I. O Fortuna
Elimination of 8-part
divisi* creates textural
descrescendo
Breath marks after every short phrase adds to

the atmosphere of strength and anticipation
Sharp
contrast in
dynamics
add to the
drama of
the
opening
movement
Repeated rhythmic patterns in orchestra are examples of Orffs primitivist* style
2014 The Choral Arts Society of Washington
Unfortunate Fate
Curiosity Corner
Want more knowledge about Carl Orffs Carmina Burana?
Craving another rendition of this classical achievement?
See below for even more astounding Orff discoveries!
Copenhagen Royal Chapel Choir
Kurtt H
K
Huber,
b musicologist
i l i t (1943)
Carl Orffs librettist for Carmina

Burana, Kurt Huber, was arrested
by the Gestapo* for assisting with
the White Rose Nazi resistance
movement. Orff later lied to Allied
liberators by saying that he helped
found Mr. Hubers Nazi resistance
movement.
YouTube
Well-Done!
Carmina Burana - Copenhagen
Royal Chapel Choir
Its a Big Ad - Carlton Beer
Draught Ad featuring Carmina
Burana
Mute swan, England
The tenor soloist sings one of the

most treacherously high vocal parts
in classical music during the 12th
movement of Carmina Burana. During
this section, the mournful high notes
of the tenor voice are portraying the
sounds of a swan roasting over a
fire.
Flashmob Carmina Burana

Chor und Orchester der
Volksoper Wien
Sean Puffy Combs was featured in a rap song

by Nas that sampled Carmina Burana
Scene from an Orff-Schulwerk

certification course at Indiana University
Go Team!
American Football photo

by Torsten Bolten
Continued Listening
De Temporum Fine Comoedia (Play for the End of Time) Carl Orff
The opening movement of Carmina

Burana is highly recognizable in
popular culture and film as a sign
of an evil omen or overwhelming
strength. First used in a 1970s Old
Spice commercial, O Fortuna can
still be heard today a major sporting
events as the teams enter the field.
Hate Me Now - Nas featuring Puff Daddy and excerpts from

Carmina Burana
Carmina Burana - E.T.O (Electronica Techno Orchestra)
Third Reich Writer
DOWN
1. Carls hometown
2. # of C.B. sections
3. His daughter
Nazi Party rally (1938)
Carmina Burana was composed and

first performed during Adolf Hitlers
reign in Nazi Germany*. Because
of the success and popularity of
Carmina Burana, the Nazi propaganda
ministry gave Orff immunity from
wartime service, a large stipend, and
public broadcasts of his music.
ACROSS
2. 12th movement soloist
3. poetic medieval* scholars
4. pageant for the stage
*see glossary
Experience the Masterpiece!

Carl Orffs scenic cantata Carmina Burana continues to be one of the most
commonly performed pieces in all of Western classical music. Just as the
traveling Goliards of the Middle Ages captivated their listeners, Carl Orffs
musical storytelling continues to demand the attention of modern listeners.
Orffs music instantly confronts the audience with a dazzling spectacle of
humanity in his most famous composition: Carmina Burana.
Experience first, then intellectualize. Carl Orff
Glossary
Dissonance disagreeable or unresolved combination of sounds in music
Divisi splitting a single musical line into two harmonious parts
Fortissimo Italian meaning very loud
Gestapo - Nazi police resposible for many horrible crimes
Medieval referring to the Middle Ages time period after antiquity and before the renaissance (476 1453 CE)
Mannheim city in southwest Germany, famous in music for its orchestral innovations
Munich city in southeast Germany, original birthplace of the Nazi Party after World War I
Nazi Party a political group that seized control of Germany in 1933 under Adolf Hitler
Pianissimo Italian phrase meaning very soft or quiet
Primitivism trend in 20th century music of imitating the sounds of non-Western cultures, usually containing
repeated ostinatos, parallel voicing, and harsh dissonances
Propaganda information or news shaped in order to advocate for a particular cause or movement
Stringendo Italian meaning with an accelerating tempo
Tavern an English word to describe a pub or bar, establishment for consuming alcohol
Tempo the speed at which music is played
Study Guide created by David Mann.

Writing Credits: Dr. Mary Jane Ayers
Editor: Caryn Fraim

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What were Carl Orff's two major contributions to music?

What were Carl Orff's two major contributions to music?

What was Carl Orff's opinion of his work Carmina Burana after its premiere?

What was Carl Orff's opinion of his work Carmina Burana after its premiere?

More Than Notes

Student Study Guide

He continued exploring the realms of musical composition through his

According to interviews with BBC,

Illustrations of Goliards* within

German opera Wozzeck

Carl Orff vigorously refused to

The wandering Goliards* often served as

Today the Orff-Schulwerk method

Blue portions of map represent globally

Since its development in 1924,

Photograph of Carl Orff after his

Carl Orff entered a nearly lethal

Lets Look at the Music!

Primo Vere (Springtime)

In Taberna (In the Tavern*)

Cour damours (The Courts of Love)

Amor volat undique

Food for Thought...

2015 The Choral Arts Society of Washington

Breath marks after every short phrase adds to

Repeated rhythmic patterns in orchestra are examples of Orffs primitivist* style

2014 The Choral Arts Society of Washington

Carl Orffs librettist for Carmina

The tenor soloist sings one of the

Flashmob Carmina Burana

Sean Puffy Combs was featured in a rap song

2015 The Choral Arts Society of Washington | choralarts.org

Scene from an Orff-Schulwerk

American Football photo

The opening movement of Carmina

Hate Me Now - Nas featuring Puff Daddy and excerpts from

Third Reich Writer

Nazi Party rally (1938)

Carmina Burana was composed and

Experience the Masterpiece!

Study Guide created by David Mann.

2015 The Choral Arts Society of Washington | choralarts.org

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