Medieval Latin Goliardic Song 'O Fortuna'

"O Fortuna" was a Medieval Latin Goliardic poem written early in the 13th century and is part of the collection known as the Carmina Burana. In 1935-36, "O Fortuna" was set to music by German composer Carl Orff as a part of "Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi", the opening and closing movement of his cantata Carmina Burana. It starst off with a slow pace having pounding drums and choir that drops quickly into a quiet whisper then builds slowly into a steady crescendo of drums and short string and horn notes peaking on one long powerful note and ending quickly.
I think the composer of this song wrote it to make the listeners feel a certain way and understand that what was about to happen is very important and is to not be taken lightly. The director uses this song in The Last of the Mohicans very well. It is used in a fight scene and draws attention to the action that occurs throughout the scene. The reason the director uses this music …show more content…
It’s a song that has a lot of fun in it, but also has some different changes in mood as well. It can be very serious and dramatic in some parts and very fun and energetic with the switch of tone. The piece I chose was the cartoon Bugs Bunny. The episode in which this song is featured is called Rabbits of Seville. The song is featured throughout the cartoon and provides a setting and mood for the whole cartoon episode. The song is the background for the whole episode and bugs bunny’s actions are synchronized with the song throughout the episode.
The way the song is composed is quite effective and goes along with the cartoon well. They dynamics of the song are interesting. The crescendos start very quietly and are repeats over and over again. Every time they restart they casually grow in loudness and pitch which ads tension and anticipation until the end where all the instruments explode in a frenzy all of each are competing for attention.