O Fortuna is a medieval Latin vagant poem written at the beginning of the 13th century , part of a collection known as “ Carmina Burana ”. This is a complaint about fate and Fortune , the personification of good luck in ancient Roman mythology .
In 1935–1936, the poem “O Fortuna” was set to music by the German composer Carl Orff . It opens and closes its cantata “Carmina Burana” (in the first case, as one of two rooms united under the common name “Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi”). The first performance took place in Frankfurt am Main on June 8, 1937.
The work of Orff gained immense popularity and was repeatedly performed by classical musicians, ensembles and popular artists. It can be heard in a variety of movies and television commercials, it has become an integral part of popular culture, setting the mood for dramatic or catastrophic situations [1] . "O Fortuna" topped the list of the most popular classical music of the last 75 years in the United Kingdom [2] .
Content
Description
The number begins with orchestral and choral "fortissimo", ending at the end of the third phrase with a delay on a long note. The remaining part of the first verse and the entire second, on the contrary, are performed in the quietest nuance; at this time, the choir recites the words with almost recitative. The third verse sounds at a faster pace at maximum volume.
Text
| Oh, fate! |
Notes
- Answer The Answer Is Almost Always "O Fortuna" - Kickass Classical Forums
- ↑ BBC News - O Fortuna is the most listened to classical piece '
- ↑ Translation of Gregorian songs: translation of the song O Fortuna, lyrics. Lingvo-laboratory Amalgam. www.amalgama-lab.com. The appeal date is May 12, 2016.