1. Carmina Burana – O Fortuna
One of Rome‘s greatest legacies is the language of Latin. It became the basis for many of our modern languages. Though Latin is rarely used today it does still show up from time to time. Listen to this song sung in Latin to get a taste.
O Fortuna velut luna statu variabilis, semper crescis aut decrescis; vita detestabilis nunc obdurat et tunc curat ludo mentis aciem, egestatem, potestatem dissolvit ut glaciem. Sors immanis et inanis, rota tu volubilis, status malus, vana salus semper dissolubilis, obumbrata et velata michi quoque niteris; nunc per ludum dorsum nudum fero tui sceleris. Sors salutis et virtutis michi nunc contraria, est affectus et defectus semper in angaria. Hac in hora sine mora corde pulsum tangite; quod per sortem sternit fortem, mecum omnes plangite!
O Fortune, just as the moon Stands constantly changing, always increasing or decreasing; Detestable life now difficult and then easy Deceptive sharp mind; poverty power it melts them like ice. Fate—monstrous and empty, you whirling wheel, stand malevolent, well-being is vain and always fades to nothing, shadowed and veiled
you plague me too; now through the game,
my bare back I bring to your villainy. Fate is against me in health, and virtue, driven on and weighted down, always enslaved. So at this hour without delay pluck the vibrating string; since through Fate strikes down the strong, everyone weep with me!
Directions: After listening to the song answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.
What is your first impression of this song? Is it what you expected?
Describe the music. Is this music fast or slow? Soft or loud?
What kinds of instruments do you hear?
What colors come to mind as you listen to the song?
If you were a movie director what kind of movie or scene would you put this music into?
Has this song changed your opinion of Opera? How so?