Fun Facts
Our authority on the Carmina manuscript is Christopher de Hamel, a fellow of Corpus Christi College and a former librarian of the college's Parker Library. These astute observations by De Hamel (below) have been taken from his excellent, prize-winning and highly recommended book: Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts: Twelve Journeys into the Medieval World (New York, 2017)
The Irony...
The manuscript opens with the striking image of the Wheel of Fortune—the illumination that has become its signature image. It is marred, it seems, by the 19th century black stamp in the upper right corner of the page, "BIBLIOTHECA REGIA MONACENSIS" (Royal library of Munich). But the irony was not lost on famed authority Christopher de Hamel, who notes, "There is irony therefore in the indelible nineteenth-century black stamp slapped right above the picture of the falling king...since, with the turning of Fortune, the royal kingdom of Bavaria was abolished in 1918 after the First World War" (p. 337).
In taberna quando sumus—When we are in the tavern... we need the lyrics!
De Hamel notes that page of the manuscript on containing the lengthy drinking song, In taberna quando sumus—wherein there are three stanzas of eight lines of continual toasts with increasing quantity—is "the most damp-stained page of the manuscript, perhaps damaged during actual use in the tavern" (p. 349).
Anyone wish to finish the game?
Commenting on the illustration of two men playing chess in the tavern, De Hamel writes, "Very unusually in art, the chessboard in the illustration is laid out with an utterly credible disposition of the pieces. I have experimented with my own set. I can reach this exact position on a board in fifteen moves, if black begins. Whoever drew the picture knew how to play chess and has represented a moment in an actual game" (p.357).
Our Library Exhibit
This project also included an exhibit in the Fresno State Library. On display is an exquisite facsimile (one of 900 copies) of the original manuscript. When this exhibition os over, you can access this book in the Special Collections Research Center on the 4th floor of the library: Carmina Burana PA8133.S8 C283 1970. (See the image gallery below for the posters that accompanied this exhibit.)
How were manuscripts made?
Want to learn more about the process of manuscript making?
Watch this short video by the Getty Museum.
A Modern Game of Mystery—About Manuscripts!
Set in the 16th century in Bavaria, you play as a journyman artist, who works in a Benedictine abby. "Led by game director Josh Sawyer, this game is brought to life by a talented team inspired by illuminated manuscripts, woodcut prints, and history itself."
The story behind the game.
Library Exhibit Posters
Provided by Dr. Kristi Eastin
German 2B Presentation
Provided by Dr. Amila Becirbegovic
Remember the Xylophone?
Did you know that Orff not only composed Carmina Burana, but also developed an approach for elementary music teaching? It is known as the Orff-Schulwerk approach, and it involves using activities such as games and movement exercises to help children enjoy the process of learning music. His teaching style also incorporated various percussion instruments- if you ever played a classroom Xylophone in your elementary music class, you can thank Carl Orff! They are known as Orff Instruments, and are meant to be simple for children to play.