description Carmina Burana Overview
Carmina Burana is the conventional title of a 13th-century manuscript collection preserved as Bavarian State Library Clm 4660. Found at Benediktbeuern Abbey, it contains more than two hundred poems and dramatic pieces, mostly in Medieval Latin with some Middle High German and Old Provençal passages. The texts cover religious criticism, morality, fortune, love, drinking, gambling, and classical mythology, and later supplied lyrics for Carl Orff's cantata.
help Carmina Burana FAQ
Is Carl Orff's Carmina Burana the same as the medieval manuscript?
No, the manuscript is a 13th-century collection of songs, poems, and dramatic texts, while Orff's Carmina Burana is a 20th-century scenic cantata. Orff selected 24 texts from the collection for his work, which premiered in 1937.
What languages appear in the Carmina Burana manuscript?
Most of the texts are in Medieval Latin, but the collection also includes Middle High German and some Old Provençal. Several poems mix languages within the same piece.
What subjects do the Carmina Burana poems cover?
The collection includes moral satire, drinking songs, love poetry, gaming songs, religious drama, and criticism of clerical corruption. Its famous Wheel of Fortune image matches the recurring theme of unstable luck.
Where is the original Carmina Burana manuscript kept?
The manuscript is preserved by the Bavarian State Library in Munich under the shelf mark Clm 4660. It became associated with Benediktbeuern Abbey, where it was found in the early 19th century.
explore Explore More
Similar to Carmina Burana
See all arrow_forward
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
