HERCULANEUM

So, you will no doubt recognize Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana - O Fortuna"...

I actually didn't know the origins of the Latin poetry dating back to the 12th century, or just when Orff composed the piece that went to it. But, here's some of its background.

Carmina Burana

Composed in 1936, Orff's Carmina Burana (Songs of the Beuern) can be heard on stages, televisions, and silver screens across the globe. The song's text, Carmina Burana, was discovered in 1803 at the Monastery of Benediktbeuren near Munich as part of a collection of Latin poetry written by the goliards dating back to the 12th century. Written exclusively for entertainment, the Carmina Burana confronts issues similar to the issues we face today: love, sex, drinking, gambling, fate, and fortune. Because of their intended use, the text was written in vernacular Latin, medieval French, and German so as to be easily understood and accessible. When composing Carmina Burana, Carl Orff selected 24 of the poems and arranged them by thematic content: Fortuna, Imperatrix Mundi (Fortune, Empress of the World), Primo vere (Springtime), In taberna (In the tavern), and Cours d’amour (The Court of Love).

Notes on O Fortuna

O Fortuna (O Fortune), undoubtedly the most famous piece of this work, is recognized by millions of people all over the world. I consider it to be one of those unknown-but-known works. Orff brilliantly captures the meaning and nature of the Wheel of Fortune. Opening with a pounding timpani and large chorus, the listener is introduced to the Wheel's magnitude, while the haunting/foreboding text and melody sitting atop a river of endlessly repeating orchestral accompaniment, mimicks its constant rotation. (source)

O FORTUNA (The lyrics in Latin)

The English translation:

O Fortune, like the moon of ever changing state, you are always waxing or waning; hateful life now is brutal, now pampers our feelings with its game; poverty, power, it melts them like ice.

Fate, savage and empty, you are a turning wheel, your position is uncertain, your favour is idle and always likely to disappear; covered in shadows and veiled you bear upon me too; now my back is naked through the sport of your wickedness.

The chance of prosperity and of virtue is not now mine; whether willing or not, a man is always liable for Fortune's service. At this hour without delay touch the strings! Because through luck she lays low the brave, all join with me in lamentation!

So, the story of "Fortune" reminded me of a painting that I greatly admire.

I've talked about Sir Edward Burne-Jones' "The Wheel of Fortune" before and how much it affects me...

The painting consists of the Goddess Fortune spinning her wheel. And upon the wheel is a slave, a king and a poet. And with the wheel's every turn a fallen may rise back again, while those on the peak of glory and happiness may fall down.

I feel like it's an appropriate message for much of life; the ebbs and flows of not just fortune, but emotion. The whole "you win some, you lose some" thing...

How everything is temporary.

Here I am with the stunning original at the Musee d'Orsay in Paris. (How about my bulging pecs in that pic, huh? They're practically bursting out of my shirt. It's all straining to keep those bad-boys contained from wreaking adulation havoc upon the French public. They would've been all, "OH MON DIEU! C'EST MAGNIFIQUE! PAS MEDIOCRE! YOUR BOOBIES EST FANTASTIQUE! SACRE BLEU!" Shhiiitttt... Dats wut I'm talkin' bout... Dang.)

*Ahem*

So... there's this old mansion about five blocks from our home that is truly beautiful. The house is regal, while the sprawling gardens are dreamlike. Will and I love walking the dogs by every chance we get. However, word on the streets is that the residents are Opus Dei peeps. So, every time we pass the house, I start singing "O Fortuna", not quite in Latin, but more like I'm a seagull hyperventilating, "AH-AH-AH-AH! AH-AH-AH-AH! AH-AH-AH-AH-AAAHHH-AH-AH!!!"

In fact, I often fantasize knocking on their door, and when they open it, there I am just standing there looking maniacal, (I may, or may not be wearing clothes... I'm guessing probably not), singing at the top of my lungs, "AH-AH-AH-AH! AH-AH-AH-AH! AH-AH-AH-AH-AAAHHH-AH-AH!!! AAAAA-AAAAA! AAAAA-AAAAA!!"

You get the picture.

Well, speaking of "Fortune", this whole post is a result of my being fortunate enough to have stumbled upon the brilliant treasure below, which happens to be my next husband. Please, join me in my good fortune and enjoy...

(At 17 seconds in, I'm pretty sure all the secrets of the Universe are revealed to him... And I hope one day he tells us. Actually, on second thought, maybe it's better if he doesn't.)

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