Carmina Burana

Carmina Burana is a powerful choral masterpiece by Carl Orff, based on medieval poems celebrating fate, love, and revelry. Its dramatic opening “O Fortuna” is one of the most recognizable pieces of classical music worldwide.

• Origins: Carmina Burana takes its name from a 13th-century manuscript discovered in a Bavarian monastery. The texts were written by wandering scholars and clergy, often satirical, bawdy, and celebratory of life’s pleasures.
• Carl Orff’s Composition (1936): Orff transformed these medieval poems into a staged cantata for chorus, soloists, and orchestra. The work is structured around the Wheel of Fortune, symbolizing the ever-changing nature of fate.
• Themes: The music explores universal human experiences—the power of destiny, the joy of spring, the intoxication of wine, and the passion of love.
• Famous Movement: The opening and closing chorus, “O Fortuna,” has become iconic in popular culture, featured in films, commercials, and sports events for its thunderous intensity.
• Performance Style: With its massive choral forces, driving rhythms, and dramatic contrasts, Carmina Burana delivers an unforgettable experience that blends medieval text with modern musical energy.

Why It's Special

• Accessible & Epic: Even for those new to classical music, Carmina Burana is instantly captivating.
• Cultural Impact: Few works have crossed into mainstream culture as widely, making it both a concert hall staple and a pop culture phenomenon.
• Audience Experience: Expect a thrilling journey from hushed whispers to explosive climaxes, all tied together by Orff’s vision of fate’s wheel turning endlessly.

The Providence Singers is a 90-voice concert choir under the direction of Christine Noel. They will be joined by members of the Rhode Island Children's Chorus and will perform the version for two pianos and percussion ensemble.

For more information, please visit our website. To hear us sing, visit our YouTube channel.