by Carl Orff
First staged in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1937, Carmina Burana combines music, words and movement of classical Greek tragedy with Italian Baroque musical theatre to create a “total theatre” experience with overwhelming percussive effect.
Germanic lyrics mixed with Latin gibberish tell the stories of the Burana, a group of monks and troubadours of medieval Europe who have forsaken their frocks in favor of wanderlust and basking in the pleasures of drinking, gambling, gluttony, and lust.
Groves’ dictionary describes Carmina Burana as an example of basic melodies pressed into service to generate effects of wild abandon. “This technique produces music of powerful pagan sensuality and direct physical excitement…”—an unforgettable dance experience.
