Personalities | Carl Orff | Modern Era | Classical

(Kärl Ôrf) 1895–1982
German composer

Orff’s Carmina Burana (‘Songs of Beuren’, 1937), with its simple melodies and pounding rhythms, is characteristic of his work. It is one of the most popular choral works in the repertory today. He wrote comic and satirical operas in this manner, including Der Mond (‘The Moon’, 1939) and Die Kluge (‘The Clever Girl’, 1943). Some later compositions use orchestras consisting almost entirely of percussion instruments; they also include settings of classical Greek dramas (Antigone, 1949) and a trilogy of Christian mystery plays. He devised an influential system of musical education using singing and percussion instruments.

Recommended Recording:
Carmina Burana, soloists, Vienna Boys’ Choir, Arnold Schoenberg Choir, Vienna PO (cond) André Previn (Deutsche Grammophon)

Introduction | Modern Era | Classical
Personalities | Hans Pfitzner | Modern Era | Classical

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