Program Notes: Brahms and Orff
Johannes Brahms: Nänie ("Elegy") Op. 82
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897). Not widely known in this country, the short choral works of Brahms are among his loveliest, most spiritually rewarding creations. Nänie, one of the finest of them, was composed in tribute to the painter Anselm Feuerbach, a personal friend who died in 1880. Since Feuerbach was also a classical scholar, Brahms was drawn to a poem by Friedrich Schiller, rich in references to classical mythology. (He first encountered the poem in an 1874 choral setting by Hermann Goetz, which he heard performed in Vienna shortly after Feuerbach's death.) Brahms conducted the premiere of his setting in Zurich the following year, dedicating the score to Feuerbach's mother.
The title is a German word that comes from the ancient Greek neniae, referring to laments for the dead, sung at funerals by relatives and friends. Schiller's poem is an ode to Death, which is personified in Greek literature as a kindly young spirit, the twin brother of Sleep. Upending his torch, he softly extinguishes the flame of life.
As he had for his German Requiem, Brahms chose to emphasize those portions of the text concerning not the pain or terror of death, but comfort and consolation for the living. His music matches that sentiment with a use of warm instrumental color, tender canonic writing, and an overall tranquility of mood. The contrasting central section provides stirring battle music to the words describing the death of Achilles in the Trojan War.
At the close, unwilling to dwell on oblivion, Brahms repeats the penultimate line ("To be even a song of lament on the lips of the beloved is glorious"), tempering Schiller's classically-inspired fatalism (". . . the perfect must die") with a sweetness of remembrance much more in tune with his own philosophy.
Nänie ("Elegy") Op. 82
| Auch das Schöne muss sterben. | Even Beauty must perish. |
| Das Menschen und Götter bezwinget, | That which overcomes men and gods, |
| Nicht die eherne Brust rührt es | does not affect the iron-hard breast |
| des stygischen Zeus. | of the Stygian Zeus. 1 |
| Einmal nur erweichte die Liebe | Only once did love soften |
| den Schattenbeherrscher, | the ruler of shadows. 2 |
| Und an der Schwelle noch, streng, | And then, at the very threshold, |
| rief er zurück sein Geschenk | he sternly called back his gift. 3 |
| Nicht stillt Aphrodite | Aphrodite could not |
| dem schönen Knaben die Wunde, | stanch the wound of the fair boy. 4 |
| Die in den zierlichen Leib grausam | Whose tender flesh the wild boar |
| der Eber geritzt. | had torn so savagely. |
| Nicht errettet den göttlichen Held | Nor could the immortal mother save |
| die unsterbliche Mutter, | her godlike hero, |
| Wenn er, am skäischen Tor fallend, | when, falling at the Scaean gates, |
| sein Schicksal erfüllt. | he fulfilled his destiny. 5 |
| Aber sie steigt aus dem Meer | But she rises from the sea |
| mit allen Töchtern des Nereus, | with all the daughters of Nereus. 6 |
| Und die Klage hebt an | And they lift their voices in lament |
| um den verherrlichten Sohn. | for her exalted son. |
| Siehe, da weinen die Götter, | See how God and |
| es weinen die Göttinen alle, | all the goddesses are weeping, |
| Dass das Schöne vergeht, | that beauty must fade, |
| dass das Volkommene stirbt. | that the perfect must die. |
| Auch ein Klagleid zu sein im Mund | To be even a song of lament on the lips |
| der Geliebten, ist herrlich, | of the beloved is glorious, |
| Denn das Gemeine geht klanglos | for 'tis the common lot to go unsung |
| zum Orkus hinab. | down to the kingdom of the dead. |
- Notes and English translation by Nick Jones,
Program Annotator of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
©2002 Nick Jones. Reprinted by permission.
1. i.e., Hades, the ruler of the Underworld, beyond the river Styx.
2. i.e., of the spirits of the dead.
3. Orpheus was allowed to leave the Underworld with his beloved wife Euridice, but when he looked back at her before reaching the surface, he lost her again forever.
4. Adonis, loved by Aphrodite, met his death in a boar hunt.
5. Achilles, son of the sea nymph Thetis, died at the hands of Paris before the gates of Troy.
6. The father of Thetis and the other sea nymphs.
Carl Orff (1895-1982) Orff first received international attention when he founded an experimental school for movement and dance in Munich. Here he developed a pedagogical approach to music education which incorporates music, speech, and gesture as a single unit. This approach was published as Schulwerk and became so popular that the Orff Institute was founded to train teachers throughout the world.
As a composer Carl Orff has evoked strong reactions for his innovations in musical theater and for his compositional style. He broke with traditional concepts of harmony and thematic development, replacing them instead with repeated rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic patterns called ostinato. His music also reflects his interest in folk melodies, modal progressions, and pronounced rhythms. Critical accounts of his music range from "relapse in primitivism," "the dreariest lack of harmony," to "gifted creator of a true music theater," "apostle of a new feeling for life."
Carmina Burana, called a "dramatic cantata," is performed either as a concert work or on the stage as a ballet with an eurhythmic chorus. It is based upon twenty-five 13th century poems written by itinerant scholars, minstrels, and runaway monks; these poems were discovered in the Benedictine monastery of Beuren, Bavaria- hence the Latin name Carmina Burana (Song of Beuren). They are written in medieval Latin and Middle High German. The theme running through the work is that of the wheel of Fortune, the goddess of fate, who rules our lives. The poems touch on all aspects of life: the defects of the church, state, and manners; complaints on the power of money and the decline of moral values; the sensual joys of food, drink, and physical love.
Carmina Burana-
INTRODUCTION
1. Fortuna imperatrix mundi (O Fortune, your mood changes like the moon) -Chorus
"Fate makes sport with our desires, causing power and poverty to melt like ice. Salvation and virtue are unknown to me, affection and defeat are always on duty, by fate the strong are overthrown."
2. Fortune plango vulnera (Fortune's blows do I lament)- Chorus
"Once I was secure, fatly grown, massaged, and manicured, now I'm stripped to the bone. High seated potentates will discern the wheel of fortune. His royal person and his mate will be collected in an urn."
I. PRIMO VERE (IN SPRINGTIME)
3. Veris leta facies (The joyous face of Spring is presented)- Chorus
Harsh winter is put to flight. Flora (goddess of flowers), is arrayed, Phoebus (God of the Sun), laughs and rests in her lap. Zephyrus (God of the West wind), lets us compete in love. Cytharizat (Goddess of love and beauty), and Philomena (princess of Athens changed to a Nightingale) sing peaceful melodies.
4. Omnia sol temperat (All things are tempered by the sun)- Baritone
Thoughts turn to love. There is virtue and honesty in being faithful to your lover; however, whoever knows such love knows the torture of the wheel.
5. Ecce gratum (Behold the welcome, long awaited spring)- Chorus
"Away with sadness, summer returns, winter departs. Wretched is the man who neither lives nor lusts under summer's spell. They rejoice who gain Cupid's reward, let us submit to Venus."
6. Uf dem anger (On the Green) - Dance
A lively dance with medieval crudeness. Rhythmically the meter alternates between three and four.
7. Floret Silva (The noble forest)- Chorus
The refrain sings of the forest decked with flowers and leaves. Maidens ask "Where is my old lover?" The men reply "He rode away on his horse." The Maidens lament "Alas, who will love me now?" After the refrain the maidens ask "When the woods turn green will I recover my lover?" The men respond "He left as fast as he can." The maidens- "O will I of all love be denied?"
8. Chramer, gip die varwe mir (Give me paint for my cheeks)- Chorus
The maidens appeal to a shop keeper to sell them powder to redden their cheeks so the men will come running faster. "Make love good men and women all, answer love's call." The maidens sing the refrain "Look at me young men, am I not well pleasing?"
9. Reie (Round Dance), Swaz hie gat umbe (Here are maidens dancing round) Chume, chum geselle min (Come pretty maid of mine)- Instrumental/Chorus
A round dance, first hesitant and then in full swing as the chorus sings. This is followed by a tender love song, "Come maidens, I long for thee, come and make me well."
10. Were diu werlt alle min (If the World were mine)- Chorus
Part I closes with a jubilant and irreverent "If the World were mine I'd forsake it if the Queen of England would awake in my arms."
II. IN TABERNA (IN THE TAVERN)
11. Estuans interius (Seething inside with boiling rage)- Baritone
The singer laments his complete lack of control over sensual pleasures. "I am like a leaf tossed by the wind... a wise man builds his house on a rock but I poor fool, am like a meandering river...No chains hold me, I am looking for those like me, I join the depraved. Whatever is Venus' command is pleasant toil. I wend my way as is youths' way. I am caught in vice and forget virtue... I think only of my skin."
12. Olim lacus colueram (Once in lakes I made my home)- Tenor
The swan is roasted. "Once in lakes I dwelt in beauty as a swan... On the spit I turn... Now in a serving dish I lie and can no longer flee the gnashing teeth." The refrain sung by the men laments "Poor me, now I am black and roasted to a turn."
13. Ego sum abbas (I am the abbot) - Baritone
"I am the abbot of Cucany(land of the cuckoo)...I like to drink and gamble. He who meets me in the morn will be stripped of shirt and shorts by night."
14. In taberna quando sumus (When we are in the tavern)- Men
"When in the tavern we spare no thought for the grave but rush to the gaming tables and to drink. Listen to what I say. Some men gamble and drink. Some lose their clothes; some win. First the dice are thrown for wine, then we drink, twice to prisoners, thrice for the living, four times to Christians, five to the departed.. to delinquent brothers, to dispersed monks, to those at war, to travelers, to the Pope, to the king. Everyone drinks.. mistress, master, soldier, clerics, servants, poor man, invalid . Six hundred pence is not enough. Let them drink the maximum, people plague us so. Let those who demean us not be accounted with the righteous."
III. COUR D'AMOURS (THE COURT OF LOVE)
15. Amor volat undique (Love lies everywhere) -Soprano and children
Children- "Love lies everywhere and is seized by desire. Young men and girls are coupled together."
Soprano- "The girl without a lover misses all the fun."
Children- "It is a bitter fate."
16. Dies, nox et omnia (Day, night and all the World)- Baritone
"All is against me, Your beautiful face makes me weep. I would be made alive by a kiss."
17. Stetit puella (There stood a young girl)- Soprano
"There is a young girl in a red tunic which rustles when touched; she is fair as a rose, radiant, and her mouth like a flower."
18. Circa mea pectora (My breast is filled with sighing)- Baritone/ chorus
"I sigh for your loveliness." The chorus refrain - "My lover does not come."
"Your eyes shine like the sun." Refrain.
"May God grant my wish that I undo the bonds of her virginity." Refrain.
19. Si puer cum puellula (If a boy and girl linger together)-Men
"If they linger together, happy is their union. Increased love leaves boring good sense behind."
20. Veni, Veni, Venias (Come, Pray come)- Chorus
"Come, do not make me die. Your beautiful face... eyes... hair. More beautiful than anything, I glory in you."
21. In trutina (In my indecision ) Soprano
"I weigh physical love and chastity. I choose what I see, I bow my head in submission and take on the yoke which is sweet."
22. Tempus est iocundum (The season is pleasant)- Solos and chorus
Chorus- "This is a joyful time, maidens and young men."
Baritone-"Oh I am bursting all over for love of a girl."
Women- "I am comforted by the promise and grieved to think I shan't."
Soprano/children- "I am bursting all over."
Men- "In winter man is patient, in spring he is lustful."
Baritone- "Oh I am bursting all over."
Women- "My virginity I'd cast away but my innocence restrains me."
Soprano- "I am bursting all over."
Chorus- "Come my mistress, come my joy."
Baritone/Chorus- "I am burning all through, a new love it is for which I die."
23. Dulcissime (Sweetest boy)-Soprano
"My sweetest boy, I give my all to you."
BLANZIFLOR ET HELENA
24. Ave Formosissima (Hail most Lovely)- Chorus
"Hail most beautiful, most precious jewel, hail pride of the virgins. Hail light of the world, rose of the world. Hail Blanchefleur and Helen, noble Venus!"
25. Fortuna imperatrix mundi (O Fortune, your mood changes like the moon)- Chorus
"Fate makes sport with our desires, causing power and poverty to melt like ice. Salvation and virtue are unknown to me, affection and defeat are always on duty, by fate the strong are overthrown."