Here’s an introduction to Carl Orff’s famous 1937 cantata Carmina Burana, famous for its appearance in a certain 1980s Old Spice advert
Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana is one of the most popular modern choral works. It owes its popularity, or at least its familiarity, to a memorable 1970s/1980s advert for Old Spice aftershave, featuring a surfer riding the waves to Orff’s dramatic music.
But what is Carmina Burana actually about? Ride the waves with us as we delve into the work’s origins and meaning.
Who wrote Carmina Burana?
Carmina Burana was written by the German composer Carl Orff (1895-1982). Orff was both a composer and a music educator. Although he is best known for Carmina Burana, he also produced the Schulwerk, a developmental approach for children’s music education.
When was Carmina Burana written?
Orff composed Carmina Burana during 1935 and 1936. The work received its premiere 8 June 1937, at the Oper Frankfurt on 8 June 1937. It is part of Trionfi, a musical triptych that also includes Catulli Carmina and Trionfo di Afrodite.
Carmina Burana is divided into five sections, and 25 movements across those five sections. The first section of the work is titled ‘Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi’ (‘Fortune, Empress of the World’). It begins with the celebrated movement ‘O Fortuna’, which featured in the Old Spice advert.
What is Carmina Burana about?
Orff’s cantata is based on 24 poems from the medieval collection of the same name, Carmina Burana. Its full Latin title is Carmina Burana: Cantiones profanae cantoribus et choris cantandae comitantibus instrumentis atque imaginibus magicis, which translates as ‘Songs of Beuren: Secular songs for singers and choruses to be sung together with instruments and magical images’.
But what is the action of the cantata actually about?
Well, that name refers to a collection of 13th-century songs and poems found, in 1803, in the southern German town of Beuren. The collection, believed to have come originally from Seckau Abbey in Austria, features more than 1,000 songs and poems in Latin, German and medieval French.
These songs were composed by the Goliards, a band of poet-musicians who liked toast life’s earthier pleasures – drinking, nature, lust – in song.
The so-called Songs of Beuren were first published in Germany in 1847. Orff first got to know them in 1934 via an English translation, published in a collection called Wine, Women and Song. The composer chose 24 songs from the cycle, and set them to music – what he called a ‘scenic cantata’.
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Orff’s Carmina Burana is divided into three sections called Springtime, In the Tavern and The Court Of Love. These three sections are bookended by an invocation to Fortune (‘O Fortuna’). Written between 1935 and 1936 for soloists, choruses and orchestra, it was originally conceived as a choreographed stage work.
Here is ‘In taberna quando sumus’ (‘When we are in the tavern’) from In the Tavern:
Which advert used Carmina Burana?
Carmina Burana featured in an Old Spice advert on Britain in the 1970s and 1980s.
What is the music from the Old Spice advert?
Specifically, the Old Spice surfing advert used music from Carmina Burana’s first movement, ‘O Fortuna’.
Where else has Carmina Burana been used?
Music from Carmina Burana has been used in the films Excalibur by John Boorman and Oliver Stone’s The Doors.
It also featured, hilariously and somewhat parodically, in this advert for Carlton Draught beer.
What are the lyrics to ‘O Fortuna’ from Carmina Burana?
FORTUNA IMPERATRIX MUNDI
1. O FORTUNA
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.
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.
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!
What are the lyrics to Carmina Burana?
Carmina Burana’s lyrics continue as follows:
2. FORTUNE PLANGO VULNERA
A Fortune plango vulnera
stillantibus ocellis,
quod sua michi munera
subtrahit rebellis.
Verum est, quod legitur
fronte capillata,
sed plerumque sequitur
Occasio calvata.
In Fortune solio
sederam elatus,
prosperitatis vario
flore coronatus;
quicquid enim florui
felix et beatus,
nunc a summo corrui
gloria privatus.
Fortune rota volvitur:
descendo minoratus;
alter in altum tollitur;
nimis exaltatus
rex sedet in vertice
caveat ruinam!
nam sub axe legimus
Hecubam reginam.
I. PRIMO VERE
3. VERIS LETA FACIES
Veris leta facies
mundo propinatur,
hiemalis acies
victa iam fugatur,
in vestitu vario
Flora principatur,
nemorum dulcisono
que cantu celebratur.
Flore fusus gremio
Phoebus novo more
risum dat, hoc vario
iam stipate flore
Zephyrus nectareo
spirans in odore;
certatim pro bravio
curramus in amore.
Cytharizat cantico
dulcis Philomena,
flore rident vario
prata iam serena,
salit cetus avium
silve per amena,
chorus promit virginum
iam gaudia millena.
4. OMNIA SOL TEMPERAT
Omnia Sol temperat
purus et subtilis,
novo mundo reserat
facies Aprilis,
ad Amorem properat
animus herilis,
et iocundis imperat
deus puerilis.
Rerum tanta novitas
in solemni vere
et veris auctoritas
iubet nos gaudere;
vias prebet solitas,
et in tuo vere
fides est et probitas
tuum retinere.
Ama me fideliter!
fidem meam nota:
de corde totaliter
et ex mente tota
sum presentialiter
absens in remota.
quisquis amat taliter,
volvitur in rota.
5. ECCE GRATUM
Ecce gratum
et optatum
Ver reducit gaudia,
purpuratum
floret pratum,
Sol serenat omnia,
iamiam cedant tristia!
Estas redit,
nunc recedit
Hyemis sevitia.
Iam liquescit
et decrescit
grando, nix et cetera,
bruma fugit,
et iam sugit,
Ver Estatis ubera;
illi mens est misera,
qui nec vivit,
nec lascivit
sub Estatis dextera.
Gloriantur
et letantur
in melle dulcedinis
qui conantur,
ut utantur
premio Cupidinis;
simus jussu Cypridis
gloriantes
et letantes
pares esse Paridis.
UF DEM ANGER
6. TANZ
7. FLORET SILVA
Floret silva nobilis
floribus et foliis.
Ubi est antiquus
meus amicus? Ah!
hinc equitavit,
eia, quis me amabit?
Floret silva undique,
nah mime gesellen ist mir wê.
Gruonet der walt allenthalben,
wâ ist min geselle alse lange?
der ist geriten hinnen,
owî, wer soll mich minnen?
8. CHRAMER, GIP DIE VARWE MIR
Chramer, gip die varwe mir,
die min wengel roete,
damit ich die jungen man
an ir dank der minnenliebe noete.
Seht mich an,
jungen man!
lat mich iu gevallen!
Minnet, tugentliche man,
minnecliche frouwen!
minne tuot iu hoch gemuot
unde lat iuch in hohen eren schouwen.
Seht mich an…
Wol dir werlt, das du bist
also freudenriche!
ich will dir sin undertan
durch din liebe immer sicherliche.
Seht mich an…
9. REIE
Swaz hie gat umbe,
daz sint allez megede,
die wellent an man
alle disen sumer gan.
Chume, chum, geselle min,
ih enbite harte din.
Suzer rosenvarwer munt,
chum unde mache mich gesunt.
Swaz hie gat umbe,
10. WERE DIU WERLT ALLE MIN
Were diu werlt alle min
von dem mere unze an den Rin,
des wolt ih mih darben,
daz diu chünegin von Engellant
lege an minen armen. Hei!
II. IN TABERNA
11. ESTUANS INTERIUS
Estuans interius
ira vehementi
in amaritudine
loquor mee menti:
factus de materia,
cinis elementi
similis sum folio,
de quo ludunt venti.
Cum sit enim proprium
viro sapienti
supra petram ponere
sedem fundamenti,
stultus ego comparor
fluvio labenti,
sub eodem tramite
nunquam permanenti.
Feror ego veluti
sine nauta navis,
ut per vias aeris
vaga fertur avis;
non me tenent vincula,
non me tenet clavis,
quero mihi similes
et adiungor pravis.
Mihi cordis gravitas
res videtur gravis;
iocus est amabilis
dulciorque favis;
quicquid Venus imperat,
labor est suavis,
que nunquam in cordibus
habitat ignavis.
Via lata gradior
more iuventutis,
inplicor et vitiis
immemor virtutis,
voluptatis avidus
magis quam salutis,
mortuus in anima
curam gero cutis.
12. OLIM LACUS COLUERAM
Cignus ustus cantat:
Olim lacus colueram,
olim pulcher extiteram,
dum cignus ego fueram.
Miser, miser!
modo niger
et ustus fortiter!
Girat, regirat garcifer;
me rogus urit fortiter:
propinat me nunc dapifer,
Miser, miser! etc.
Nunc in scutella iaceo,
et volitare nequeo,
dentes frendentes video:
Miser, miser! etc.
13. EGO SUM ABBAS
Ego sum abbas Cucaniensis
et consilium meum
est cum bibulis,
et in secta Decii
voluntas mea est,
et qui mane me
quesierit in taberna,
post vesperam nudus egredietur,
et sic denudatus veste clamabit:
Wafna, wafna!
quid fecisti sors turpissima?
Nostre vite gaudia
abstulisti omnia!
Haha!
14. IN TABERNA QUANDO SUMUS
In taberna quando sumus,
non curamus quid sit humus,
sed ad ludum properamus,
cui semper insudamus.
Quid agatur in taberna,
ubi nummus est pincerna,
hoc est opus ut queratur,
sic quid loquar, audiatur.
Quidam ludunt,
quidam bibunt,
quidam indiscrete vivunt.
Sed in ludo qui morantur,
ex his quidam denudantur,
quidam ibi vestiuntur,
quidam saccis induuntur.
Ibi nullus timet mortem,
sed pro Baccho mittunt sortem:
Primo pro nummata vini
ex hac bibunt libertini:
semel bibunt pro captivis,
post hec bibunt ter pro vivis,
quater pro Christianis cunctis,
quinquies pro fidelibus defunctis
sexies pro sororibus vanis,
septies pro militibus silvanis.
Octies pro fratribus perversis,
nonies pro monachis dispersis,
decies pro navigantibus,
undecies pro discordantibus,
duodecies pro penitentibus,
tredecies pro iter angentibus.
Tam pro papa quam pro rege
bibunt omnes sine lege.
Bibit hera, bibit herus,
bibit miles, bibit clerus,
bibit ille, bibit illa,
bibit servus cum ancilla,
bibit velox, bibit piger,
bibit albus, bibit niger,
bibit constans, bibit vagus,
bibit rudis, bibit magus.
Bibit pauper et egrotus,
bibit exul et ignotus,
bibit puer, bibit canus,
bibit presul et decanus,
bibit soror, bibit frater,
bibit anus, bibit mater,
bibit iste, bibit ille,
bibunt centum, bibunt mille.
Parum sexcente nummate
durant cum immoderate
bibunt omnes sine meta,
quamvis bibant men te leta,
sic nos rodunt omnes gentes
et sic erimus egentes.
Qui nos rodunt confundantur
et cum iustis non scribantur.
Io, io, io! …
III. COUR D’AMOURS
15. AMOR VOLAT UNDIQUE
Amor volat undique,
captus est libidine.
Iuvenes, iuvencule
coniunguntur merito.
Siqua sine socio,
caret omni gaudio,
tenet noctis infima
sub intimo
cordis in custodia:
fit res amarissima.
16. DIES, NOX ET OMNIA
Dies, nox et omnia
michi sunt contraria,
virginum colloquia
me fay planszer,
oy suvenz suspirer,
plu me fay temer.
O sodales, ludite,
vos qui scitis dicite,
michi mesto parcite,
grand ey dolur,
attamen consulite
per voster honur.
Tua pulchra facies,
me fey planszer milies,
pectus habens glacies,
a remender
statim vivus fierem
per un baser.
17. STETIT PUELLA
Stetit puella
rufa tunica;
si quis eam tetigit,
tunica crepuit.
Eia.
Stetit puella,
tamquam rosula;
facie splenduit,
os eius floruit.
Eia.
18. CIRCA MEA PECTORA
Circa mea pectora
multa sunt suspiria
de tua pulchritudine,
que me ledunt misere. Ah!
Manda liet,
manda liet,
min geselle
chumet niet.
Tui lucent oculi
sicut solis radii,
sicut splendor fulguris
lucem donat tenebris.
Ah! Mandaliet, etc.
Vellet deus, vellent dii,
quod mente proposui:
ut eius virginea
reserassem vincula. Ah!
Mandaliet, etc
19. SIE PUER CUM PUELLULA
Sie puer cum puellula
moraretur in cellula,
felix coniunctio.
Amore sucrescente,
pariter e medio
propulso procul tedio,
fit ludus ineffabilis
membris, lacertis, labiis.
20. VENI, VENI, VENIAS
Veni, veni, venias,
ne me mori facias,
hyrca, hyrca, nazaza,
trillirivos!
Pulchra tibi facies,
oculorum acies,
capillorum series,
o quam clara species!
Rosa rubicundior,
lilio candidior,
omnibus formosior,
semper in te glorior!
21. IN TRUTINA
In trutina mentis dubia
fluctuant contraria
lascivus amor et pudicitia.
Sed eligo quod video,
collum iugo prebeo;
ad iugum tamen suave transeo.
22. TEMPUS EST IOCUNDUM
Tempus est iocundum,
o virgines,
modo congaudete
vos iuvenes.
Oh, oh, oh!
totus floreo,
iam amore virginali totus ardeo!
novus, novus novus amor est, quo pereo!
Mea me confortat
promissio,
mea me deportant
negatio.
Oh, oh, oh! etc.
Tempore brumali
vir patiens,
animo vernali
lasciviens.
Oh, oh, oh! etc.
Mea mecum ludit
virginitas,
mea me detrudit
simplicitas.
Oh, oh, oh! etc.
Veni domicella,
cum gaudio,
veni, veni, pulchra,
iam pereo.
Oh, oh, oh! etc.
23. DULCISSIME
Dulcissime, Ah!
totam tibi subdo me!
BLANZIFLOR ET HELENA
24. AVE FORMOSISSIMA
Ave formosissima,
gemma pretiosa,
ave decus virginum,
virgo gloriosa,
ave mundi luminar
ave mundi rosa,
Blanziflor et Helena,
Venus generosa!
FORTUNA IMPERATRIX MUNDI
25. O FORTUNA
No. 1 repeated