FORTUNA IMPERATRIX MUNDI
Fortune, Empress of the World
Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi ("Fortune, Empress of the World") serves as the powerful, somber prologue to Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.
The opening movement, "O Fortuna," presents a visceral meditation on the unpredictable and relentless nature of Fate. It depicts Fortune as a turning wheel that indiscriminately elevates and crushes, reducing all human endeavors—whether poverty or power—to fleeting, uncertain states.
The subsequent movement, "Fortune plango vulnera" ("I Lament the Wounds of Fortune"), shifts to a personal, reflective sorrow, mourning the loss of former prosperity and honor. Through these verses, the work offers a timeless warning that glory is ephemeral and that all, even those at the height of power, remain subject to the cyclical and indifferent whims of destiny.
1. O Fortuna O Fortune
O Fortune, changing as the moon,
forever waxing and waning; hateful life,
first oppressing, then consoling,
playing with human fate; poverty and power alike you melt away like ice.
Cruel Fortune, empty and relentless,
you are a turning wheel; prosperity is fleeting,
well-being uncertain, always fading away.
Hidden and veiled, you bear down even upon me;
now through your games I must expose my bare back to your blows.
Fortune opposes me in health and in strength;
driven and burdened,
I am forever enslaved. Therefore, now,
without delay, strike the strings in lamentation;
since Fortune casts down even the mighty,
weep with me, all of you.
2. Fortune plango vulnera I Lament the Wounds of Fortune
I lament the wounds of Fortune,
with tears flowing from my eyes,
for she gives her gifts generously
only to take them away again.
It is rightly written that Opportunity wears hair upon her brow, yet behind her head is bald,
for once she passes, she cannot be grasped.
Once I sat enthroned by Fortune,
crowned with the flowers of prosperity.
Though I flourished, happy and blessed,
now I have fallen from the summit,
stripped of honour. Fortune's wheel turns;
I descend diminished, while another rises high above. Let the king seated at the top
beware his coming fall; for beneath the wheel
stands Queen Hecuba, a reminder that all glory passes.
PRIMO VERE
Springtime
"PRIMO VERE" ("Springtime") serves as a vibrant, rhythmic contrast to the somber themes of the prologue, celebrating the cyclical renewal of the natural world. These movements capture the triumph of spring over the harshness of winter, utilizing imagery of blooming flora, warming sunlight, and returning birds to evoke a sense of sensory awakening. The section shifts focus to the intoxicating power of love, framing the season as an invitation to abandon melancholy and yield to the joys of youthful passion under the influence of Venus and Cupid.
3. Veris leta facies The Joyful Face of Spring
Spring reveals her joyful face to the world;
winter's harshness is defeated and driven away.
Flora reigns, clothed in garments of many colours,
while the woods celebrate her with a sweet song.
Phoebus, resting in Flora's lap,
smiles once more, surrounded by flowers.
The gentle west wind breathes its fragrant perfume.
Let us hasten eagerly to compete for love's reward.
The sweet nightingale sings her song;
the meadows laugh with flowers,
flocks of birds soar through the pleasant forests,
and the chorus of maidens promises a thousand delights. Ah!
4. Omnia sol temperat All Things Are Tempered by the Sun
The sun, pure and gentle,
brings balance to all things;
and April's face is newly revealed to the world.
The heart is drawn toward love,
and the youthful god of love rules over every joy.
The renewal of creation and the splendour of spring command us all to rejoice.
The familiar paths return,
and in your springtime it is right and true
to remain faithful to the one you love.
Love me faithfully;
see how faithfully I love you,
with all my heart and all my soul.
Though far away,
I remain present with you in spirit.
Whoever loves in such a way turns upon Fortune's wheel.
5. Ecce gratum Behold the Pleasant Spring
Behold the welcome spring, bringing joy once more.
Purple flowers bloom across the meadows,
while the sun shines serenely upon all things.
Let all sadness depart!
Summer returns, and winter's harshness retreats.
Snow and ice melt away; the cold season flees,
and spring now draws nourishment
from summer's abundance.
Wretched is the one who neither lives fully
nor delights in love beneath summer's generous hand.
Those who seek Cupid's reward
rejoice in sweetness as rich as honey.
By Venus' command, let us rejoice together
And share the happiness once granted to Paris of Troy.
UF DEM ANGER
On the Village Green
"UF DEM ANGER" ("On the Village Green") transitions the focus from the broader natural world to the intimate, social vibrancy of village life. Opening with a rhythmic instrumental dance, this section serves as a tableau of courtship, where communal celebration intertwines with individual desire. Through a sequence of songs, it explores the full spectrum of romantic experience: from the wistful longing of a maiden missing her companion amidst the blooming forest, to the playful vanity of a young woman seeking to allure, and finally to a bold, whimsical fantasy of royal romance. These movements portray love not merely as an emotion, but as an irresistible, unifying force that compels all people—regardless of their station—to yield to its command.
6. Tanz Dance (Instrumental)
A lively village dance celebrating the arrival of spring and the joy of communal festivity.
7. Floret silva nobilis The Noble Forest Blossoms
The noble forest blossoms
with flowers and fresh leaves.
Where is my beloved? Ah!
He has ridden away on horseback.
Who will love me now?
The forest blooms on every side,
yet I grieve
for the companion who is absent.
The woods grow green everywhere,
but why has he been gone so long?
He has ridden far away. Alas!
Who will love me now?
8. Chramer, gip die varwe mir Shopkeeper, Give Me Face Paint
Shopkeeper,
give me colour for my cheeks,
that I may make young men
look at me with desire.
Look at me, young men!
Let me please you.
Look at me, young men!
I am fair and beautiful.
Through your love I shall blossom.
Look at me, young men!
Let me delight your hearts.
9. Reie Round Dance
Swaz hie gat umbe All Who Dance Here
All who dance here should know
that no one can escape the power of love.
Young men and maidens alike
must submit to Love's command.
Chume, chum, geselle min
Come, Come, My Companion
Come, my beloved companion.
Come, for I long for you.
Come, you are the one I desire.
Come, my heart awaits you.
All who dance here must yield
to the joyful rule of love.
None can resist Love's power.
10. Were diu werlt alle min If All the World Were Mine
If all the world were mine,
from the sea to the furthest shore,
I would gladly give it all away
if only the Queen of England
might lie in my arms.
Ah! What happiness that would be.
IN TABERNA
In the Tavern
"IN TABERNA" ("In the Tavern") marks a dramatic descent from the natural, romantic ideals of the previous sections into the raw, unvarnished realities of human vice. This movement serves as a satirical and often riotous portrait of life on the margins, shifting the setting to a rowdy tavern where the pursuit of pleasure overrides morality. Through a series of dark, ironic vignettes—ranging from a swan roasting on a spit to a disgraced, gambling Abbot—the music explores themes of excess, loss, and the inevitability of one’s own folly. Ultimately, it presents a defiant, chaotic anthem to indulgence, capturing the frantic spirit of those who, in the face of life’s hardships and the proximity of death, abandon all restraint for the immediate solace of wine, gambling, and companionship.
11. Estuans interius Burning with Inner Rage
Burning inwardly with fierce anger,
I speak bitterly to my own heart.
Created from matter, and made of ash,
I am like a leaf blown about by the wind.
For it is fitting that the wise man
build upon solid rock, yet I, poor fool,
am compared to a flowing stream,
never remaining in one place.
I am carried away by pleasure, drawn by desire, and devoted to vice more than to virtue.
My salvation is dead, and I care only
for the pleasures of the flesh.
12. Olim lacus colueram Once I Lived on Lakes
Once I lived on lakes, once I was beautiful.
When I was a swan, my feathers were dazzling white. Misery!
Now I am black and roasting fiercely.
The servant turns me on the spit;
the cook prepares me; now I lie upon the platter. Misery!
Now all can see me. Once graceful upon the water, now I am reduced to ashes.
My song is no longer beautiful.
Now I cry out in sorrow and despair.
13. Ego sum abbas I Am the Abbot
I am the Abbot of Cockaigne,
and my assembly consists of drunkards.
Whoever seeks me in the tavern
will find me there.
And when the gamblers have finished,
they will strip me of my clothes,
and I shall depart naked.
Woe to me! My dignity has vanished.
The gamblers' dice have robbed me of everything.
14. In taberna quando sumus When We Are in the Tavern
When we are in the tavern,
we do not concern ourselves with the grave.
Instead, we devote ourselves to gambling,
which always makes us sweat.
What happens in the tavern,
where money serves as cupbearer,
is worth hearing.
Some gamble. Some drink. Some live recklessly.
Among those who gamble, some lose their clothes, some win new garments,
others are reduced to poverty.
No one fears death there;
instead, they throw the dice.
The mistress drinks. The master drinks.
The soldier drinks. The priest drinks.
The servant drinks. The maid drinks.
The old man drinks. The young man drinks.
The bishop drinks. The king drinks.
The pope drinks.
One drinks for prisoners.
One drinks for travellers.
One drinks for the living.
One drinks for the dead.
Six hundred coins are hardly enough for all who drink.
Though everyone drinks without restraint,
they still speak ill of us.
Let them speak. Their criticism means nothing.
May they be counted among the righteous—
or perhaps not!
COUR D'AMOURS
The Court of Love
"COUR D’AMOURS" ("The Court of Love") shifts the emotional palette to the intricate, often bittersweet landscape of romantic longing and intimacy. Unlike the rowdy communal energy of the tavern, this section explores the interiority of the lover’s experience—ranging from the agonizing distance of unrequited desire to the fervent, youthful surrender of physical passion. Through a series of delicate and expressive vignettes, the music weighs the tension between modesty and desire, ultimately celebrating the intoxicating, transformative power of love as a deeply personal and often overwhelming force.
15. Amor volat undique Love Flies Everywhere
Love flies everywhere, capturing hearts.
Young men and maidens are drawn together.
The young girl rejoices in the embrace of her beloved.
Love brings delight to every heart.
Blessed is the one who enjoys such happiness.
16. Dies, nox et omnia Day, Night and Everything
Day, night, and everything between
stand against me.
The thoughts of maidens torment my heart.
Many young women surround me,
yet the one I love remains beyond my reach.
I long for her. I sigh for her. I call to her.
Yet she does not come.
17. Stetit puella A Maiden Stood There
A maiden stood there wearing a red tunic.
If I could touch her, if I could embrace her,
I would count myself blessed.
Her beauty shines more brightly than any flower.
She captures every gaze and stirs every heart.
18. Circa mea pectora Within My Heart
Within my heart many sighs arise.
A beautiful maiden has captured my soul.
My desire grows stronger
with every passing moment.
I long for her embrace. I long for her kiss.
May she come to me, for without her
my heart cannot rest.
19. Si puer cum puellula When a Boy Meets a Girl
When a boy is alone with a girl in a little room, happy union follows. Love flourishes there. Modesty retreats. Their hearts join together as one.
20. Veni, veni, venias Come, Come, Come to Me
Come, come,come to me.
Do not delay. Beauty draws me,
desire burns within me. Come, my beloved, come.
My heart longs for you. Come,
and fulfil my desire.
21. In trutina In the Balance
In the balance I weighed
modesty against desire.
But desire prevailed.
I choose what is sweet.
I surrender myself to love.
22. Tempus est iocundum Now Is the Joyful Time
Now is the joyful time, maidens rejoice.
Young men delight in their beloveds.
Love blossoms in every heart.
The maiden and her lover celebrate together.
Their happiness overflows, and all the world
seems bright.
23. Dulcissime Sweetest One
The sweetest one! I give myself entirely to you.
BLANZIFLOR ET HELENA
Blanchefleur and Helen
"BLANZIFLOR ET HELENA" serves as a brief, radiant apotheosis—a hymn-like tribute to beauty and virtue. By elevating the beloved to a near-divine status, this movement functions as the emotional climax of the work’s romantic arc, momentarily pausing the harsh cycle of fortune to bask in the perfection of idealized love.
24. Ave formosissima Hail, Most Beautiful One
Hail, most beautiful one,
precious jewel among women.
Hail, radiant maiden,
adorned with every virtue.
You surpass all others in beauty.
You are glorious, you are noble,
you are worthy of praise.
Come, and crown the joy of love.
FORTUNA IMPERATRIX MUNDI
Fortune, Empress of the World
The work concludes with a powerful reprise of "O FORTUNA," bringing the cycle full circle. As the music returns to the ominous, pounding rhythms of the opening, it serves as a stark reminder that even the heights of joy, the renewal of spring, and the fervor of love are ultimately bound to the inexorable and indifferent turning of Fortune’s wheel. The finale leaves the audience with the somber, timeless truth that all human endeavor is transitory, and that all are subject to the cyclical and unpredictable nature of destiny.
25. O Fortuna O Fortune
O Fortune, changing as the moon,
forever waxing and waning;
hateful life, first oppressing,
then consoling, playing with human fate.
Poverty and power alike you melt away like ice.
Cruel Fortune, empty and relentless,
you are a turning wheel.
Prosperity is fleeting, well-being uncertain,
always fading away. Hidden and veiled,
you bear down even upon me.
Now through your games
I must expose my bare back to your blows.
Fortune opposes me in health and in strength.
Driven and burdened, I am forever enslaved.
Therefore now, without delay,
strike the strings in lamentation.
Since Fortune casts down
even the mighty, weep with me, all of you.