Composer

:

Carl Orff

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Cantata

Compose Date

:

1930 - 1943

Average_duration

:

37:43

Movement_count

:

14

Movement ....

Catulli Carmina is a cantata composed by Carl Orff in 1943. It premiered in Frankfurt on June 6, 1943, with the composer conducting. The work is based on the poems of the Roman poet Catullus, which Orff set to music in a style that he called "scenic cantata." The cantata is divided into three movements, each of which is further divided into several sections. The first movement, titled "Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi" (Fortune, Empress of the World), is a hymn to the goddess Fortuna. It begins with a powerful chorus, "O Fortuna," which has become one of the most famous pieces of classical music. The movement also includes solo and choral sections that praise the power and unpredictability of fate. The second movement, "Fortune Plango Vulnera" (I lament the wounds of Fortune), is a lament for the misfortunes that befall humanity. It features a solo soprano singing the words of a young woman who has been abandoned by her lover. The movement also includes a chorus that laments the suffering of all people. The third movement, "Cour d'amours" (Court of Love), is a celebration of love and sensuality. It features solo and choral sections that praise the joys of physical love and the pleasures of the senses. The movement ends with a rousing chorus that celebrates the power of love to overcome all obstacles. The music of Catulli Carmina is characterized by its rhythmic drive and percussive energy. Orff used a large orchestra, including a battery of percussion instruments, to create a sound that is both primitive and modern. The vocal writing is also highly rhythmic, with the singers often chanting or speaking in a declamatory style. Overall, Catulli Carmina is a powerful and dramatic work that combines ancient poetry with modern music. Its themes of fate, love, and the human condition continue to resonate with audiences today.

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