'Carmina' is a rousing finale for Sandy group
It's without question one of classical music's Top 40 hits, and it keeps popping up on concert programs regularly. And one thing is certain — its popularity is in no danger of waning. It's a rollicking, fun piece with rousing choral and solo numbers.
The Utah Symphony and Chorus recently performed it in Abravanel Hall, and now the Orchestra and Chorus of Sandy City will play it. They'll close out their season this weekend in Sandy's Good Shepherd Lutheran Church with two performances of Orff's 1937 work, with a repeat performance May 19 in Libby Gardner Concert Hall.
OCSC music director Joel Rosenberg knows that "Carmina Burana" can appeal to everyone. "This is for people who feel that classical music is boring and monotonous," he told the Deseret News. "But it has something for everyone, and it has something for every mood."
"Carmina Burana's" impact lies partly in its orchestration. "It relies heavily on percussion," Rosenberg said. "It requires five players, and there are also two pianos." This, combined with a large orchestra, results in music of sheer overwhelming force. "The music has a percussive brutality about it. Orff's goal is total theater."
It's no surprise that one of the composers Orff greatly admired was Igor Stravinsky. "I'm sure Orff came into contact with Stravinsky's music when Stravinsky visited Germany and had some of his music recorded there." That the Russian composer's works influenced the younger man is clearly evident in "Carmina Burana" — one can certainly hear similarities between Orff's piece and Stravinsky's "Les Noces" and "Oedipus Rex."
Orff had written quite a few works by the time he came across some 13th century student poems found in a manuscript in Bavaria. "He was about 40 when he discovered these verses, and it changed his entire career. He created his own style of writing. You can say that he found himself as a composer with 'Carmina Burana."'
Rosenberg said the piece is a conductor's dream. "You have an enormously good time with it. It's hard because of its complex rhythms, but it's one of the most enjoyable things a conductor can do because of all the variety and textures in the music."
It's been 12 years since the OCSC has done "Carmina Burana," and Rosenberg believes it's high time to bring it back. "We have a tradition of doing a major work for our orchestra and chorus in the spring. We try to do works that are new to us and also pieces that we've done in the past."
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