almost one month ago i had the wonderful opportunity of hearing the Portuguese Symphony in an outdoor concert in Lisbon. because it didn't start until 10pm, i could only stay for the first 30 minutes before having to take the subway back to my hotel. the opening number was very powerful, very very recognizable but i did not know the name of the composition nor the composer. well, while watching last night's Daily Show with Jon Stewart i heard the music used as background to the ridiculousness of the Fox News Station's version of the news. Jon Stewart then used the music as background to Dora the Explorer to show how this music can make the most innocent scenes seem evil. and then Jon said "damn you Carmina Burana".
so, i googled Carmina Burana. thank you Jon Stewart and Carl Orff.
July 5th Coro do Teatro Nacional Orchestra Sinfonica Portuguesa
(the music actually starts around 1:40).
this is the music and lyrics. just as in my clip, you will notice you need to turn up the volume about 30 seconds into video.
| O Fortuna | O Fortune, |
| velut luna | like the moon |
| statu variabilis, | you are changeable, |
| semper crescis | ever waxing |
| aut decrescis; | and waning; |
| vita detestabilis | hateful life |
| nunc obdurat | first oppresses |
| et tunc curat | and then soothes |
| ludo mentis aciem, | as fancy takes it; |
| egestatem, | poverty |
| potestatem | and power |
| dissolvit ut glaciem. | it melts them like ice. |
| Sors immanis | Fate - monstrous |
| et inanis, | and empty, |
| rota tu volubilis, | you whirling wheel, |
| status malus, | you are malevolent, |
| vana salus | well-being is vain |
| semper dissolubilis, | and always fades to nothing, |
| obumbrata | shadowed |
| et velata | and veiled |
| michi quoque niteris; | you plague me too; |
| nunc per ludum | now through the game |
| dorsum nudum | I bring my bare back |
| fero tui sceleris. | to your villainy. |
| Sors salutis | Fate is against me |
| et virtutis | in health |
| michi nunc contraria, | and virtue, |
| est affectus | driven on |
| et defectus | and weighted down, |
| semper in angaria. | always enslaved. |
| Hac in hora | So at this hour |
| sine mora | without delay |
| corde pulsum tangite; | pluck the vibrating strings; |
| quod per sortem | since Fate |
| sternit fortem, | strikes down the strong man, |
| mecum omnes plangite! | everyone weep with me! |
i just heard a commercial for a new movie called The Goods which has this same music in the background. i wonder how Mr. Orff would feel about his music in such a movie. i think i read there is a controversy whether or not it was the music in the 1976 film, The Omen.
