Orff Carmina Burana
Karl Orff's exuberant celebration of life, made famous in the UK by a certain TV advert
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Recordings
Scores
These are some of the more common scores; other editions are available. Different editions may vary significantly e.g. in the music, words or page numbering. Check which edition your choir is using before purchasing. Also watch out for different formats (e.g. large print, spiral-bound reprints) as these may not be what you want.
(See the Practice aids page for more information)
Practice aids
Musical Notes
Carmina Burana is a "Marmite" work - some love its driving rhythms and raw power, others find it repetitive and simplistic. It became widely known in the UK thanks to its opening chorus O Fortuna which featured in the Old Spice aftershave adverts of the 70s and 80s, and subsequently in countless films and television programmes.
The title relates to a collection of medieval poems, 24 of which Orff set to music. They celebrate the pleasures of life, including love, drinking and gambling. Other movements range from raunchy drinking songs to playful dances. For the singer, the notes are relatively straightforward; the challenges come in mastering the complex rhythms and ever-changing time signatures, getting your tongue around the combination of medieval Latin, German and French, and maintaining your energy throughout the performance.