Carl Orff

percussion // contemporary instrumental classical

You’ve heard Carl Orff’s composition in the trailer of some movie, I’m sure. From the opera Carmina Burana, “O Fortuna” has appeared in countless contemporary contexts, from Walt Disney World to internet video memes. ‘Gassenhauer’, or ‘Street Song’, was arranged from a lute setting by Hans Neusiedler from 1536. Orff used basic orchestra percussion, layering each one one top of eachother to create a vibrant crescendo of sound. If it comes off as familiar, you’ve likely heard it in one of these films: Badlands, True Romance, and Me and You and Everyone We Know.

Xylophone, marimba, timpani, shaker, castanets, then snare.
Carl Orff – Gassenhauer
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Posted by Paul Irish on Thursday, June 1st, 2006 under classical.

17 Responses to “Carl Orff”

  1. bresslau said on June 1st at 10:18 pm :

    Bem legal, valeu! A great way to start a day. I am off to tuning harmonica in a few minutes.

  2. moo said on June 2nd at 4:04 am :

    Yea, Gassenhauer has pure fun percussion! :)

  3. runman said on June 2nd at 5:52 am :

    Thought you were dead Paul:)

  4. Anonymous said on June 3rd at 5:37 am :

    I recognized it instantly from True Romance… The version for that movie is made by Hanz Zimmer and called “You’re so cool”. Thanks!

  5. Anonymous said on June 3rd at 9:16 pm :

    Good post. FYI, though, “Carmina Burana” is not an opera like “La Boheme” or “Carmen.” It’s more correctly called a cantata, performed by an orchestra and chorus in a straightforward symphonic setting rather than in a dramatic setting like an opera.

  6. Tigermilk said on June 4th at 4:30 pm :

    This track is a gem.

  7. Anonymous said on June 4th at 6:33 pm :

    Bet you didn’t know this…but Carl Orff was the guy that came up with all the musical instruments that we have in elementary school. the xylophone looking things are called “Orff Intrumentarium” He’s a god in the Music Education world

    Big-D

  8. jam said on June 7th at 5:14 am :

    hmmm… i don’t think they used the actual Orff piece in either True Romance or Me You & Everyone We Know – i think they were covers or reworkings by other artists, no?

  9. Paul Irish said on June 7th at 5:17 am :

    Yeah, very likely. The info on the net is spotty, so I couldn’t validate. So you’re likely right..

  10. ineptmule said on June 12th at 3:35 am :

    I’d heard “O Fortuna” and the rest of Carmina Burana before, but this track is extraordinary.

    I’m amazed that Hans Zimmer and/or Mark Mancina managed to get away without making it clear that they were so influenced by this when writing the theme to True Romance. The similarities are far too strong to be coincidental, and the connection really should be made more explicit.

  11. Anonymous said on June 18th at 4:11 am :

    I am a big fan of your music “O fortuna”(excalibur)..
    ..
    I love this and all music of yours..

  12. Ragged Hobo said on June 24th at 6:28 pm :

    I was acutally looking for this record today in Tokyo and all I could find were countless versions of Carmina Burana – typical.

    Came home disappointed – checked out the always excellent aurgasm – and found this great post, which cheered me up no end!

    Cheers, I love it when unexpected sychronicity strikes.

  13. Matthew said on July 11th at 9:29 am :

    Oh, man…finally. My father used to play this album (“Street Song”) LOUD, and this first track has always triggered something deep and profound for me. I have been searching for it for years. Thanks.

  14. Wednesday Keller said on April 1st at 8:18 pm :

    The download link is broken, so no more song? Sigh.

  15. lauren said on June 6th at 1:03 pm :

    We’re playing this song in music class, for our concery. I’m playing the “woodpecker” part. the gggggggggg aaaaaaaaaa gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg aaaaaaaaaa gggggggggggggggggggg aaaaa ggggggggggggggg aaaaa
    Yeah. I’m a master.

  16. djerzinski said on January 1st at 2:00 pm :

    speaking of “countless contemporary contexts” I also mention Finding Forrester, a Steven Soderbergh movie. however, I can’t help myself asking you a favor: please fix the broken link! thank you very much!

  17. djerzinski said on January 1st at 2:18 pm :

    I have to correct my post above: Finding Forrester is a Gus van Sant film and the song they used there is actually a cover made by Hans Zimmer. sorry!

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