The Composer Behind ‘O Fortuna’ and Modern Latin Chant

The opening melody of Carl Orff’s ‘Carmina Burana’ is instantly recognizable today, but its roots lie in an obscure 13th-century medieval manuscript.

Composer Carl Orff stumbled upon an image of “O Fortuna,” which inspired his work “Carmina Burana.” Public Domain

Carl Orff, born in July 1895, composed numerous pieces, including 18 stage works. Among these, he is best known for the thunderous cantata “Carmina Burana.” It was his first major work, one that he started writing when he was already 40.

It has become one of the most popular classical works of the 20th century. But what is it about “Carmina Burana” that continues to grip audiences nearly a century after its premiere?

Finding Music Within

Even if Orff had never composed any memorable music, we would still remember his name today. Early in his career, before he turned to serious composition, he founded a school in Munich where he developed a new method of teaching music to children.