Orff was born in Munich and came from a Bavarian family that was very active in the German military. His father's regimental band supposedly often played the compositions of the young Orff. He studied at the Munich Academy of Music until 1914, then served in the military during World War I. Afterwards he held various positions at opera houses in Mannheim and Darmstadt, later to return to Munich to further pursue his musical studies.
From 1925 Orff was the head of a department and co-founder of the Guenther School for gymnastics, music, and dance in Munich, where he worked with musical beginners. Having constant contact with children, this is where he developed his theories in music education.
While Orff's association, or lack thereof, with the Nazi party has never been conclusively established, his Carmina Burana was hugely popular in Nazi Germany after its premiere in Frankfurt in 1937, receiving numerous performances (although one Nazi critic reviewed it savagely as "degenerate", implying a connection with the contemporaneous, and infamous, exhibit of Entartete Kunst). He was one of the few German composers under the Nazi regime who responded to the official call to write new music for A Midsummer Night's Dream, after the music of Felix Mendelssohn had been banned, which in itself suggests where his sympathies lay; others refused to cooperate in this.
Orff was a personal friend of Kurt Huber, one of the founders of the resistance movement Die Weiße Rose (the White Rose), and who was condemned to death by the Volksgerichtshof and executed by the Nazis in 1943. After World War II, Orff claimed that he was a member of the group, and was himself involved in the resistance, but there was no evidence for this other than his own word, and other sources dispute his claim).
Orff is buried in the Baroque church of the beer-brewing Benedictine priory of Andechs, south of Munich.
Orff is best known for Carmina Burana (1937), a "scenic cantata". It is the first of a trilogy, Trionfi, which also includes Catulli Carmina and Trionfo di Afrodite. These compositions reflected his interest in medieval German poetry. Together the trilogy is called Trionfi, meaning "triumphs". The work was based on a thirteenth-century erotic verse written by the Goliards, found in a manuscript dubbed the Codex latinus monacensis, which had been discovered in a Bavarian monastery in 1803. The term "Goliards" was often used to describe students who wrote secular verse in the Middle Ages. While "modern" in some of his compositional techniques, Orff was able to capture the spirit of the medieval period in this trilogy, with infectious rhythms and easy tonalities. The mediaeval poems were written in an early form of German and Latin.
With the success of Carmina Burana, Orff orphaned all of his previous works except for Catulli Carmina and the En trata, which were rewritten until acceptable by Orff. He was reluctant to call any of his works simply operas. For example, he called Der Mond ("The Moon") (1939) a "Märchenoper" or Fairytale Opera, and placed Die Kluge ("The Wise Woman") (1943) in the same category. About his Antigone (1949), Orff said specifically that it was not an opera, rather a Vertonung, a "musical setting" of the ancient tragedy. The text is a German translation, by Friedrich Hölderlin, of the Sophocles play of the same name. The orchestration relies heavily on the percussion section, and is otherwise fairly simple.
Orff's last work, De Temporum Fine Comoedia ("A Play of the End of Time"), had its premiere at the Salzburg music festival on 20th August 1973, performed by Herbert von Karajan and the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. In this highly personal work, Orff presented a mystery play, in which he summarised his view on the end of time, sung in Greek, German, and Latin.
Carmina Burana: In Taberna Quando Sumus
Carl Orff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
non curamus quid sit humus, we do not think how we will go to dust
sed ad ludum properamus, but we hurry to gamble
cui semper insudamus. which always makes us sweat
Quid agatur in taberna what happens in the tavern
ubi nummus est pincerna, where money is lost
hoc est opus ut queratur, you may well ask
si quid loquar, audiatur. and hear what I say
Quidam ludunt, quidam bibunt, some gamble, some drink
quidam indiscrete vivunt. some behave loosely
Sed in ludo qui morantur, but of those who gamble
ex his quidam denudantur some are stripped bare
quidam ibi vestiuntur, some win their clothes
quidam saccis induuntur. some are dressed in sacks
Ibi nullus timet mortem here no-one fears death
sed pro Baccho mittunt sortem: but they throw the dice
in the name of Bacchus
Primo pro nummata vini, first of all it is to the wine-merchant
ex hac bibunt libertini; for the libertines drink
semel bibunt pro captivis, one for the prisoners
post hec bibunt ter pro vivis, three for the living
quater pro Christianis cunctis, four all Christians
quinquies pro fidelibus defunctis, five for the faithful dead
sexies pro sororibus vanis, six for the loose sisters
septies pro militibus silvanis. seven for the footpads in the wood
Octies pro fratribus perversis, eight for the errant
nonies pro monachis dispersis, nine for the dispersed monks
decies pro navigantibus ten for the seamen
undecies pro discordaniibus eleven for the squabblers
duodecies pro penitentibus, twelve for the penitent
tredecies pro iter agentibus. thirteen for the wayfares
Tam pro papa quam pro rege to the Pope as to the king
bibunt omnes sine lege. they all drink without restrain
Bibit hera, bibit herus, the mistress drinks, the master drinks
bibit miles, bibit clerus, the soldier drinks, the priest drinks
bibit ille, bibit illa, the man drinks, the woman drinks
bibit servis cum ancilla, the servant drinks with the maid
bibit velox, bibit piger, the swift man drinks, the lazy man drinks
bibit albus, bibit niger, the white man drinks, the black man drinks
bibit constans, bibit vagus, the settled man drinks, the wanderer drinks
bibit rudis, bibit magnus. the stupid man drinks, the wise man drinks
Bibit pauper et egrotus, the poor man drinks, the sick man drinks
bibit exul et ignotus, the exile drinks,and the stranger
bibit puer, bibit canus, the boy drinks, the old man drinks
bibit presul et decanus, the bishop drinks, and the deacon
bibit soror, bibit frater, the sister drinks, the brother drinks
bibit anus, bibit mater, the old lady drinks, the mother drinks
bibit ista, bibit ille, this lady drinks, that man drinks
bibunt centum, bibunt mille. a hundred drink, a thousand drink
Parum sexcente nummate six hundred pennies would hardly
durant, cum immoderate suffice, if everyone
bibunt omnes sine meta. drinks immoderately and immeasurably
Quamvis bibant mente leta, however much they cheerfully drink
sic nos rodunt omnes gentes we are the ones whom everyone scolds
et sic erimus egentes. and thus we are destitude
Qui nos rodunt confundantur may those who slander us be cursed
et cum iustis non scribantur. and may their names not be written
in the book of the righteous
The text of In Taberna Quando Sumus (When We Are in the Tavern) is taken from the medieval Latin poem Carmina Burana, a collection of bawdy, irreverent, and satirical lyrics. The first half of the song describes the passions and vices of revelers in a tavern, where they come together to drink, bet, and play without worrying about their future. The second half is a laundry list of different people who sit down in the tavern to drink - princes, rulers, soldiers, bishops, monks, women, slaves, the young, the old, the rich, and the poor. The chorus then closes the song with a wry expression that condemns the excesses and hypocrisy of human society.
Line by Line Meaning
In taberna quando sumus
When we are in tavern
non curamus quid sit humus,
we do not think how we will go to dust
sed ad ludum properamus,
but we hurry to gamble
cui semper insudamus.
which always makes us sweat
Quid agatur in taberna
what happens in the tavern
ubi nummus est pincerna,
where money is lost
hoc est opus ut queratur,
you may well ask
si quid loquar, audiatur.
and hear what I say
Quidam ludunt, quidam bibunt,
some gamble, some drink
quidam indiscrete vivunt.
some behave loosely
Sed in ludo qui morantur,
but of those who gamble
ex his quidam denudantur
some are stripped bare
quidam ibi vestiuntur,
some win their clothes
quidam saccis induuntur.
some are dressed in sacks
Ibi nullus timet mortem
here no-one fears death
sed pro Baccho mittunt sortem:
but they throw the dice in the name of Bacchus
Primo pro nummata vini,
first of all it is to the wine-merchant
ex hac bibunt libertini;
for the libertines drink
semel bibunt pro captivis,
one for the prisoners
post hec bibunt ter pro vivis,
three for the living
quater pro Christianis cunctis,
four all Christians
quinquies pro fidelibus defunctis,
five for the faithful dead
sexies pro sororibus vanis,
six for the loose sisters
septies pro militibus silvanis.
seven for the footpads in the wood
Octies pro fratribus perversis,
eight for the errant
nonies pro monachis dispersis,
nine for the dispersed monks
decies pro navigantibus
ten for the seamen
undecies pro discordaniibus
eleven for the squabblers
duodecies pro penitentibus,
twelve for the penitent
tredecies pro iter agentibus.
thirteen for the wayfares
Tam pro papa quam pro rege
to the Pope as to the king
bibunt omnes sine lege.
They all drink without restrain
Bibit hera, bibit herus,
the mistress drinks, the master drinks
bibit miles, bibit clerus,
the soldier drinks, the priest drinks
bibit ille, bibit illa,
the man drinks, the woman drinks
bibit servis cum ancilla,
the servant drinks with the maid
bibit velox, bibit piger,
the swift man drinks, the lazy man drinks
bibit albus, bibit niger,
the white man drinks, the black man drinks
bibit constans, bibit vagus,
the settled man drinks, the wanderer drinks
bibit rudis, bibit magnus.
the stupid man drinks, the wise man drinks
Bibit pauper et egrotus,
the poor man drinks, the sick man drinks
bibit exul et ignotus,
the exile drinks,and the stranger
bibit puer, bibit canus,
the boy drinks, the old man drinks
bibit presul et decanus,
the bishop drinks, and the deacon
bibit soror, bibit frater,
the sister drinks, the brother drinks
bibit anus, bibit mater,
the old lady drinks, the mother drinks
bibit ista, bibit ille,
this lady drinks, that man drinks
bibunt centum, bibunt mille.
a hundred drink, a thousand drink
Parum sexcente nummate
six hundred pennies would hardly
durant, cum immoderate
suffice, if everyone
bibunt omnes sine meta.
drinks immoderately and immeasurably
Quamvis bibant mente leta,
however much they cheerfully drink
sic nos rodunt omnes gentes
we are the ones whom everyone scolds
et sic erimus egentes.
and thus we are destitute
Qui nos rodunt confundantur
may those who slander us be cursed
et cum iustis non scribantur.
and may their names not be written in the book of the righteous
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MaxHimbigger
it's funny to hear this song made all epic and dramatic, when it's just about medieval peasants getting drunk af and gambling in the tavern
@abalada
You didn't get the messages of this song. Drinking and having fun is for all. Not just for the peasants - which in 13th century Southern Germany did not spoke or understood Latin beyond a few phrases. This song is by the academic elite of the time. The melody is actually known as the text was written down with neumes. Here a more authentic version (albeit the support by instruments was in real life most likely less available/good)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9dvU9TP8Y0
The epic and dramatic version was by Carl Orff in 1936. Following on the big orchestration the footsteps of two other Bavarian composers: Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss.
@nhkvictim5714
Why does it have to be southern Germany? And academic elite? One didn’t have to be a professor (in modern words) to write a poem like that — students could do it also.
To talk about southern Germany: universities existed in different regions at the time (e.g. Bologne, Sorbonne, Cambridge, etc). Besides, epic orchestration feels weird, despite the fact that it has the right to be possible.
To sum up: I understand the musical message of an authentic version you linked. But what is the Carl Orff’s message?
@Sunotaiga
@nhkvictim But students were part of the academic elite, were they not? Because poor peasants wouldn't bei able to pay for school. The fact that it is written in Latein alone shows at least some degree of elitism. And universities were just starting to establish themselves. The songs were written in the 12th century and only compiled in the 13th.
Southern Germany, I think, references the only known source of the song, the Codex Buranus, which was found in South Germany (Benediktbeuern, to be specific). Although you are right, songs of this kind were mostly written in France or Italy.
@R1DER420
Yeah i really like that song😂
@auro793
Maybe it was an epic drinking and gambling....
@liamjones8532
Singing this takes a lot out of me, absolutely my favorite movement
@Donnerbalken28
It's so fun. Much better than O Fortuna.
@theovlach
I love how the percussionists bop their hands with the rhythm.
@marcorecktenwald4822
the funniest thing about that isn't that it's epic and dramatic when it's just about drinking and gambling BUT the facial expressions of most of the girls: they really look angry just like their men are way too long in the tavern 🤣