Carmina Burana

the libretto for Carl Orff’s scenic cantata

Translated and adapted by Jay Ducharme

"Carmina Burana" translates to "Songs (or Chants) of Beuern." In 1803 at the Bavarian monastery of Benedictbeuern, an amazing and vast collection of songs was discovered. The songs were the writings of Goliard poets in the late thirteenth century. The writings (mostly in Latin, German and French) were not what you would have expected to find in a monastery. They were basically bawdy drinking songs on par with what you might hear at your local pub. I can't imagine the members of the monastery being too thrilled with this particular discovery. One might wonder why the supposedly pious and reserved monks would keep such a collection on hand. In the equally reserved climate of the 1800s, various translations were attempted. There was a lot of material -- around 3000 songs. Translations were usually restricted to a very small portion of the collection, and most didn't attempt to copy the rhyme and rhythm of the original text (but did manage to minimize any bawdy references). In 1936, German composer Carl Orff chose 24 songs from the Carmina collection and arranged them into four themed sections (based on fortune, springtime, drinking and love) plus the addendum of the ode Blanziflor et Helena. He adapted some of the original medieval music, but most of the score was of his own design. He envisioned the enormous orchestral and choral work being performed as a "scenic cantata" with spectacular visuals to go along with the music. He subtitled the work "Cantiones Profanae," which means "profane songs." His Carmina Burana was a terrific success for him and is still widely performed today. He followed that work with two more compositions for orchestra and chorus using other text from the Carmina collection. My first introduction to the Carmina came when I was a child. Orff's famous Dance from the Carmina was used as the theme song for a TV show my parents regularly watched. Years later, I heard the complete cantata and was very impressed. I began casually researching the source of his libretto and was quite surprised when I learned what the chorus was actually singing. As I delved into the text more and more, I could find no adequate translation that captured the fun and abandon of the original Goliard songs. So I set about translating the libretto myself, with the intention of creating a singable English version that could be used in production. I hunted through transcripts of the huge original collection and found the songs that matched up with those that Orff had selected. He had freely taken excerpts from various songs and pieced them together as he needed. I first created a rough literal translation of several complete (pre-excerpted) songs. Then I searched for every translation of the Carmina that I could find and compared others' interpretations with what I had come up with. When I was confident that I knew the intent and meaning of the songs, I then began the arduous task of crafting that meaning into singable lyrics that exactly matched the rhyme and rhythm scheme of the original libretto. It was a process that took me fourteen years (on and off) to complete. After every revision, I would put it away and forget about it for a while, later come back to it fresh and review it critically, make more changes and then set it aside again. I had a particularly difficult time with a few of the pieces. Much of that stemmed from my desire to replicate the feel of the original language. English can be much more difficult than Latin with which to create extensive inter-rhyming. When faced with the daunting task of re-creating the feel of "Si puer cum puellula," I abandoned literal translation. The whole of the Carmina is filled with references to people, figures and events now lost to history, or at least no longer familiar to a modern audience. A literal translation would have preserved those references, but might not have the humorous impact originally intended. So I chose to introduce in some songs characters that, in the song's situation, a modern audience might find humorous. To create interesting inter-rhyming and inject humor, my version of "Si puer cum puellula" became "If Jack and Jill go up the hill.” But most of my libretto stays as close as possible to a literal translation. For the curious, I've kept the verse enumeration from the original texts, which helps illustrate what Orff used and what he left out. If you have a recording of the Carmina handy, feel free to sing along! I hope you enjoy it.

1. Fortune reigning I) Fortune reigning, Waxing, waning, Always doing as You please, You never cease From Your caprice. Our luck forever varies. You bring us wealth, Then with Your stealth You quietly absolve us. As sun melts ice, By Your device So too do You dissolve us. II) You're like roulette. What luck we get Is seldom for the better. The more You spin, The less we win. We stay Your helpless debtor. There's no reward. We can't afford The heavy debts we're paying. We always lose, And yet we choose To blindly keep on playing. III) Grim Fortune can Reduce a man, Without much provocation, From ecstasy To agony Regardless of his station. Our vain discord Won't strike a chord: Fate laughs as our lives decay. No prayer, no sin Can save our skin. Let us cry without delay. 2. Though Fortune showers me with gifts I) Though Fortune showers me with gifts, Seducing me with pleasures, I know that Fortune always shifts, Taking back my treasures. Fortune gets us pregnant, but Then aborts the fetus. Happiness She should grant, but Watch how She will treat us. II) Once I sat upon a throne, Relishing my power. But even though my wealth had grown, Soon it all went sour: Fortune turned and took its toll, Showing me no mercy. In the end I lost control, Robbed of all my glory. III) Revolving Fortune sweeps the earth, Without regard for justice. Impoverished men and men of worth Equally will perish. Fortune's joys can swiftly stop, Turning into trouble. All that rises to the top Soon must fall to rubble.

PART ONE 3. Let your heart be filled with joy I) Let your heart be filled with joy: Rejoice for Spring's return! Earth is Mother Nature's toy, Painted green and auburn. No more viewing Winter's dawn, Icy grey and lonely; I am being shined upon, Drawn by Spring to you only. II) Morning dew upon the lawn Suckled by the morn dove, Gentle diamonds in the dawn Pawed at by mist's white glove -- On this board my heart is pawn In those games we dream of. Quick, before our Spring is gone, Let us win each others' love. IV) Lovebirds mate and sing their song Sweetly to the flowers. Sunshine breathes through clear and strong, Warding off the showers. Birds are soaring, courting trees, Trunks as tall as towers. Smell the scent of love's sweet breeze -- Women under Spring's powers. Ah! 4. Now the sun breaks through the cold I) Now the sun breaks through the cold Just when it is needed. Winter's white and Autumn's gold Have at last receded, Making way for Springtime's hold. Bursting forth unheeded, Trees and flowers, now made bold, Show where they were seeded. II) Life can sometimes be a trial, Often without reason, But one thing can reconcile Fortune's acts of treason: Seeing Spring restore a smile, Pleasing all it breathes on, Letting loose your passion while Pleasure is in season. III) Love me tender, love me sweet, Never let me go, dear. Don't hold back and don't retreat: Let desire grow. Dear Me, why are you scared to greet Love when you well know, dear, How the thrill of passion's heat Warms you from below, dear. 5. Thank God Spring's here I) Thank God Spring's here! Frozen snows clear. Seedlings sprout and start to rise. Golden brightness Melts the whiteness. Sunshine streams through cloudless skies. Come on, let a smile grow -- No more grieving! Winter's leaving! Summer colors start to show! II) Ice turns liquid. Lakes, once frigid, Wake up from a Winter's rest. Fog is clearing, Disappearing. Spring is sucking Summer's breast. Now's the time for happiness! No more stalling! Love is calling Under Summer's warm caress. III) Passion's glory Is the story When sweet waters start to flow. Don't be sorry And don't worry If you're stuck by Cupid's bow. Spring can melt a heart of ice. Just rejoice and Raise your voice and Taste the joys of paradise! Ah! GARDEN PARTY 6. Dance 7. Flowers bloom and multiply I) Flowers bloom and multiply 'Neath our Lord's blue-crystal sky. Where's my lover hiding? Did he go riding? He's fled on horseback. Oh no! Now the sky turns black. Flowers bloom and robins sing. I'm longing for my lover's sting To feed my heated body's hunger. I wish he had stayed a little longer. He's gone and not returning. Oh me, who'll cool my burning? Ah. 8. Sorry sir, this lipstick stinks Mary Magdalene: Sorry sir, this lipstick stinks. It's just not expressive. Let me know when you can see Anything that makes me look impressive. Tease my hair so men can see I don't feel like shunning Their affections. Let them know I've quite a lot of features that are stunning. Wait up, World! Slow life down! I'm so over-active. It's a shame. It really is! I can't help it if I'm so attractive. Ref) Look at me. . . . Can you see If my make-up's running? 9. Round dance Are those girls we see? Are those girls we see? Each retains her chastity, Sighing from love's call All through Spring and into Fall. Aw, shucks. Candy? Candy, little girl? Candy? Candy, little girl? Let me take you for a whirl. Let me take you for a whirl. Candy? Candy, little girl? Sweetest, though in dreams you're mine, I long to drink your lips of wine, I long to drink your lips of wine, Sweetest, though in dreams you're mine. 10. If the world belonged to me If the world belonged to me From the Rhine out to the sea, I'd relinquish all life's charms Just so Her Britannic Majesty Would come into my arms. Hey!

PART TWO 11. Fraught with indecisive thought I) Fraught with indecisive thought, Drunkenly debating Whether life has any worth, All my concentrating Proves my life is like the dust, Not worth emulating As wind sweeps me randomly, Never long abating. II) Many so-called wise men think, Wrongly computating, That it's best to root yourself, Firmly demarcating. I prefer a different route: Never quite relating To one place at any time, Never situating. III) Let me sail away to sea, No thoughts of returning. Let the endless water try Quenching all my yearning. Water can't put out my fire; Fire is for burning. Let my flame strike other men So their souls start churning. IV) Who on earth could live a life Solely based on learning? Let's at least enjoy our time While the earth's still turning. Give desire precedence -- Love's not made for spurning. You're not young for very long; Spend while you're still earning. V) Following the rugged path Youth is prone to using, Searching for a better road Paved for swifter cruising, I run into youthful lust, Open for abusing. Lust and reason battle, but Reason's always losing. 12. I once was quite a handsome swan I) I once was quite a handsome swan, Though now my beauty's nearly gone. I've over-cooked to roasted scrawn. II) You should have seen how nice I looked: My nights out at the pond were booked. Now you might say my goose is cooked. V) Now I am on a serving plate; My chance to flee has come too late And gnashing teeth will be my fate. Ref) Poor me, poor me, There's no more me; I'm burnt black as can be. 13. I am the Pastor I am the Pastor of Notre Dame, and my hobby's drinking with the guys each night. And we play a little cards, strip poker mostly. Yeah, whoever loses at it first, he has to run down the sidewalk minus all his clothes and -- this is a riot -- has to shout out loud: Dammit! Dammit! Fate, how come you treat us all like shit? Don't think that I'm gonna quit -- I'll have fun in spite of it! Ha ha. 14. In a tavern underground I) In a tavern underground Lit dimly by a dying candle, There each one of us has found What makes his burdens light to handle. If you want to know our vices What we give as our advice is Listen closely to our story, Take a moral inventory. II) Some men drink and others gamble. Some stay put and others ramble. And by those who take their chances, Fortune's given backward glances. After we have paid tuition To our colleges of pleasure, Then we drink to life's fruition As the dice are thrown at leisure: III) Once for grapes upon the vine, and Once more when they turn to wine, and Prisoners are toasted twice and Carefree people toasted thrice, and Four times for Catholicism, Five for all those who create a schism. Toast six times for any holy nuns and Toast seven times for all the horny ones, and IV) Eight times for my poor perverted brother, Nine for crooks who pardon one another, Ten for sailors sailing out at sea, Eleven times for men who drown at sea And twelve for those who make a sinner's plea, Thirteen for those who roam the country free. Here's to Popes and politicians; Drink to all without omissions! V) Here's to men and here's to women, Here's to fat and here's to thin men, Here's to maestroes, here's to mystics, Here's to clerks and here's to clerics, Here's to shy men and to flagrants, Here's to soldiers, here's to vagrants, Here's to living and cessation, Here's to end discrimination, VI) Here's to tough guys, here's to wimps, and Here's to prostitutes and pimps, and Here's to servants, here's to earls, and Here's to boys and here's to girls, and Here's to sister, here's to brother, Here's to father, here's to mother! Here's to hundreds! Here's to millions! Here's to billions! Here's to trillions! VII) "As for what gives man elation, Not all things in moderation." Here's to all you who get plastered! What the hell if you're a bastard, Take life by the horns and steer it Where you want it! Never fear it! Who the hell cares who's offended; Live up life before it's ended! Yeah!

PART THREE 15. Watch who first get Cupid's dart a) Watch who first get Cupid's dart: Those among us young at heart, Always joining, late to part . . . Too naive to yet be shy. b) When a woman wants a guy, Though she try to catch his eye, Tease him, snare him, get him -- hard As she may try, Unrequited love stands guard. Fortune pays her no regard. 16. Day and night and everything VI) Day and night and everything To me are embarrassing. Notice how girls laugh and sing -- Who can I blame? They know I can't play their game, And I hide in shame. VII) Go ahead, make fun of me. I'll surprise you, wait and see! I'll show you that I can be Tall as Everest! Taller than a redwood tree When I'm at my best. IX) My head's light; my spirit soars From that gorgeous face of yours, Though your heart's closed all its doors. But just one kiss, Just one kiss upon your lips Would be true bliss. 17. Little Miss Muffet Little Miss Muffet, flat on her tuffet, Said, "Who needs curds and whey? Get me a man to lay! Oh yeah!" Little Jack Horner crept to her corner, Told Muffet he was gay And frightened her away. Oh yeah. 18. How my heart is filled with air V) How my heart is filled with air, Just as if there's nothing there. My love abandoned me in bed; Misery lies here instead. VI) How her eyes shine in the light, Like the stars you see at night. Empty longing fills my heart As long as we are kept apart. VII) Hear me, Fortune! Hear my plea! Bring my virgin back to me. Bring me her sweet lips to taste. Break the chains that hold her chaste. Ah. Ref) Woe is me, woe is me, My love's loose and running free. 19. If Jack and Jill go up the hill If Jack and Jill go up the hill And take a spill into the well, Hoowee, they'll raise some hell! Desire will mount and conquer them: Jill will end up getting on And Jack will end up getting off. And Jack will keep it up until He's sure that he's exhausted Jill, And Jill will keep him on his back Till she's sure she's exhausted Jack. 20. Hurry, hurry,hurry up I) Hurry, hurry, hurry up! While life lasts let's live it up! "Hoo-hoo, you-hoo! Hey, sexy! How about it?" II) Face that draws a thousand sighs When you gaze with open eyes, Hair caressing down your thighs -- Beauty there to tantalize! III) Redder than a redwood tree, Purer than the crystal sea, To the world I now decree Love for you eternally! 21. Pain and longing I) Pain and longing join inside my womb For I know my love is hung Between naiveness and salacious lust. II) And when I find that man to whom Hymns of passion may be sung, Ah, then I'll take him on me, come what must. 22. Love is now in season I) Love is now in season; Let passions fly! Find a willing virgin To satisfy. II) Say you'll be my lover! Don't ever leave. Say you'll love no other -- Don't make me grieve. III) Winter hides desire, But Spring cannot. Feed me with your fire, Love, moist and hot. IV) Like a budding flower My blossoms show, Waiting for your shower To make me grow. V) Come to me, my precious, Come hear my cry. Try to be more gracious Or I'll just die. Ref) Oh, oh, don't you think I've known You love me? And can't you see My love for you has grown? Hurry, hurry, hold me Close before I Die. 23. Hey, pretty boy IX) "Hey, pretty boy, Show me how to bring you joy." KISS ME, MARY, QUEEN OF SAINTS 24. Glory be to virgin thighs VIII) Glory be to virgin thighs, Slender and exciting! Flesh unsoiled by mortal touch Soon will be uniting. How I long to feel your lips Tenderly delighting. Kiss me, Mary, Queen of Saints, Virgin most inviting!