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 world—a 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 music—the 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 children’s magazine. © 2015 The Choral Arts Society of Washington | choralarts.org

*see glossary

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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 today’s 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. © 2015 The Choral Arts Society of Washington | choralarts.org

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

Orff 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 Orff’s 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

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Let’s 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 d’amours (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 composer’s 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 Orff’s primitivist* style

© 2014 The Choral Arts Society of Washington

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Unfortunate Fate

Curiosity Corner Want more knowledge about Carl Orff’s 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 Orff’s 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. Huber’s Nazi resistance movement.

YouTube Well-Done! Carmina Burana - Copenhagen Royal Chapel Choir “It’s 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

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© 2015 The Choral Arts Society of Washington | choralarts.org

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. Carl’s hometown 2. # of C.B. sections 3. His daughter

Nazi Party rally (1938)

Carmina Burana was composed and first performed during Adolf Hitler’s 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

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Experience the Masterpiece! Carl Orff’s 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 Orff’s musical storytelling continues to demand the attention of modern listeners. Orff’s 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

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Study Guide created by David Mann. Writing Credits: Dr. Mary Jane Ayers Editor: Caryn Fraim

© 2015 The Choral Arts Society of Washington | choralarts.org