Carl Orff – “O Fortuna” from “Carmina Burana” (1936)
2009/10/29
“O Fortuna” is the first part of the movement of Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana”, though the bits of the rest of the “Carmina Burana” I have heard are hardly as intense. The lyrics are actually a medieval Latin poem and if you read the full translation to English, the song is actually quite profound in its review of “Fate”. Here is one part:
Fate
-monstrous and empty,
you whirling wheel,
stand malevolent,
well-being is vain
and always fades to nothing
With such weight and darkness I am adding it to my Halloween playlist.
Really the song is so powerful it is a pity it has been grossly overused and abused by commercial media and popular culture. Gatorade? Really? Boo! I say. Boo!!!
Now Carlton Draught beer … maybe I’ll cut you some slack. But only because the men are all in medieval style gowns in a giant valley, and it appears as though there might actually be a battle. However part of me is disappointed about the lyrics. It just cheapens the original, though I suppose it is funny. Ok, I forgive you, but only because I like beer!
Song Recommendations
If you like this song, I also suggest:
- Bruno Coulais – “Coraline Soundtrack”
- Steve Sharples – “Bolero (Closing Credits to Moulin Rouge)”
- Leopold Stokowski – “Night on Bald Mountain”
I also suggest the music genre:
Click here for more info on Carl Orff – Carmina Burana – Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi – “O Fortuna”.
The MP3 (of the version by Leonard Slatkin with Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, which I believe is the same one as above) may be purchased here: Carl Orff - Carmina Burana
Listen on Blip.fm!
