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Corvus corax - Songs from Carmina Burana

Corvus Corax, a German band,  specialising in interpretations of medieval music that borrow elements from both heavy metal and opera, have recorded a number of songs from the Carmina Burana , a collection preserved in a 13th century manuscript discovered at the monastery of Benedicktbeurn in Bavaria.  The songs are mostly in Latin, with a few in a southern German dialect, and were probably originally composed in the 12th and 13th centuries.  Most of the original text of the Latin poems is available in the on-line Bibliotheca Augustana, and text and translation of a smaller selection on the Teach Yourself Latin site.  A preview of Patrick Walsh's Love Lyrics from the Carmina Burana, which includes texts, translations and detailed notes, is provided on Google Books.  In the Latin texts given in this section macrons have not been added, but the original, ancient Roman spelling `ae' in words like saepe has been restored to assist in recognition by students of the classical language. Medieval documents generally change the spelling to `e',  reflecting the changed pronunciation. The ancient pronunciation before around 100 A.D. was the same as that of the diphthong in English `die'.
Picture
 De Mundi Statu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NTyT-mVjso​
​
Mundus est in varium saepe variatus                                                The world has often been altered in various ways
Et a status ordine sui degradatus:                                                        and degraded from the order of its [proper] status
Ordo mundi penitus est inordinatus,                                                  the order of the world has been deeply disordered
Mundus nomine tenus stat, sed est prostratus.                             the word supposedly stands, but is [actually] prostrate


Sperabamus quod adhuc quisquam remaneret,                               We were hoping that someone would still remain
Mundum qui praecipitem dando sustineret,                                     who could support a collapsing world by giving,
Pleno cornu copiae munera praeberet,                                               provide gifts from a full horn of plenty,
Nomen largiae, sed et rem, quod plus est, haberet.                        be called generous but, what is more, really be so          
                                                                                                                  
Mundus ergo labitur, nullus hunc sustentat;                                   The world, therefore, is falling, no one holds it up
Currit, cadit, corruit, quis eum retentat?                                          It runs away, falls, collapses, who is preserving it?            
Largitatis semitas nemo iam frequentat                                            Nobody now follows the paths of generosity             
Actus largi strenuos nemo representat                                              Or performs the energetic acts of a generous person

Haec dum nudo nudam se propter hoc iniungit,                            Thus, while this one lies naked with her naked partner,        
Manu, lingua, labiis palpat, lingit, ungit;                                           Touches, licks, smears with hand, tongue and lips
At Venus medullitus scalpit, prurit, pungit!                                     Still desire scrapes, itches  and vexes them inwardly

Picture
Custodes sunt Raptores

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhV9r5rh6YY
(This video was recorded at a live performance in Munich in 2009 and clicking SHOW MORE takes you to links to recordings of many other songs made on the same occasion)
​

In huius mundi patria regnat idolatria;                                            In the fatherland of this world idolatry reigns
Ubique sunt venalia dona spiritalia.                                                  Everywhere spiritual gifts are for sale
Custodes sunt raptores atque lupi pastores,                                   The guards are robbers and the shepherds are wolves           
Principes et reges subverterunt leges.                                              Princes and kings undermine the laws
Hac incerta domo insanit omnis homo.                                            With this uncertain home every man goes crazy
Sed ista cum vento transibunt in momento.                                   But in a moment these things will pass away with the wind

 O varium fortunae

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtYcxOYQ87o&feature=related

O varium fortunae lubricum                                                        O the slippery inconstancy of Fortune,
Dans dubium tribunal iudicum,                                                    A court giving a dubious verdict,
Non modicum paras huic praemium,                                         You prepare a great reward for the one
Quem colere tua vult gratia.                                                         Your favour wishes to foster.
Et petere rotae sublimia,                                                                [You allow him] to aim for the top of the wheel
Dans dubia tamen, praepostere                                                   Yet giving dubiously,  preposterously
De stercore pauperem erigens,                                                     Raising a poor man from the gutter,
De rhetore consulem eligens.                                                        Selecting an orator to become a ruler

Aedificat Fortuna diruit;
                                                                 Fortune builds and tears down                                                     
Nunc abdicat quos prius coluit                                                     Now it abandons those it previously fostered

​  Dulcissima

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QWS1xUkUaA

"Ave, formosissima, gemma pretiosa!"                             `Hail, most beautiful, precious gem!'

Dulcissima                                                                                         The sweetest one                                                            

Vidi florem floridum, vidi florum florem,                           I have seen a flower in flower, the flower of flowers

Vidi rosam Madii cunctis pulchriorem,                              I have seen the flower of May more beautiful than the rest
Vidi stellam splendidam, cunctis clariorem,                    I have seen a splendid star, clearer than the rest
Per quam ego degeram lapsus in amorem.                        Through whom I had lived as one fallen in love   

Quid plus? Collo virginis brachia iactavi                            What more [need I say] I threw may arms round the maid's neck
Mille dedi basia, mille reportavi,                                          Gave a thousand kisses, received a thousand
Atque saepe saepius dicens affirmavi:                                 And time and again I spoke and declared
"Certe, certe istud est id, quo anhelavi!"                             `Certainly, certainly this is what I sighed for!'


Ergo  bibamus

Ergo bibamus, ne sitiamus, vas repleamus!                              Therefore  let's drink, let's not be thirsty, let's refill the mug
qisque suorum posteriorum sive priorum                                 each one for his  past or  future
sit sine cura morte futura re peritura                                          should be without care as death will come and the world perish
ergo bibamus                                                                                    therefore let's drink

Other interpretations of the Carmina

By far the best-known setting of songs from the collection is Carl Orff's version for choir and orchestra, while probably the most convincing attempt to recreate a medieval performance is that by Philip Pickett and the New London Consort on the L'Oiseau-Lyre label. The set is now difficult to find but individual tracks can be bought for download on Amazon and elsewhere. In August 2020 another extensive recording of the  Carmina, by the Clemencic Consort, was uploaded yo Youtube as a 3 hour 40 minute video.  A version of the drinking song `Bacche, bene venies' (Welcome, God of Wine) in similar style to Pickett's  is also available on Youtube, with illustrations and Latin subtitles.
Bacche, bene venies  (medieval spellings replaced with classical ones,  long vowels marked according to classical pronunciation and literal translation added; other versions of the song include additional stanzas - see the Paroles-musique  and St.Celia Press sites and the lyrics given below the next embedded video)

Bacche, bene veniēs                                         
grātus  et  optātus                                                                     per quem noster animus                                                     
fit   laetificātus                                                                            

        Istud vīnum, bonum vīnum                               
        vīnum generōsum                                                         
        reddit virum curiālem                                                
        probum, animōsum                                                      
  
Iste cyphus concāvus                                                            
dē  bonō   merō profluus                                                     
sī quis  bibit saepius                                                                
Satur fit et  ēbrius   

Istud etc.

Haec sunt vāsa rēgia
quibus spoliātur
Ierusalem et rēgālis
Babilon dītātur.


Istud etc.

Bacchus forte superāns
pectora virōrum

in amōrem concitat
animōs eōrum.


Istud etc.

Bacchus saepe vīsitāns
mulierum genus

facit eās subditās
tibi, ō tū Venus.


Istud etc.

Bacchus vēnās penetrāns
calidō liquōre

facit eās igneās
Veneris ardōre.


Istud etc.

Bacchus lēnis lēniēns
cūrās et dolōrōs

confert iocum, gaudia,
rīsūs et amōrēs.


Istud etc.

Omnēs tibi canimus
maxima praecōnia,

te laudantes merito
tempora per omnia.
       

Istud etc.   x  3                                               
​​Bacchus, well you-will come
pleasing and wished-for
through whom our spirit
becomes made-joyful

         That wine,  good wine
         wine in-generous-quantity
          renders  a-man noble
          honest, spirited
  
That cup hollowed-out
from goodness pure flowing
if anyone drinks more-often
replete he-becomes and merry

            That etc.

These are the-cups royal
of-which  is-despoiled
Jerusalam and kingly
Babylon enriched

              That etc.

Bacchus by-chance overcoming
breasts of-men
into love arouses
spirits of-them

              That etc.

Bacchus often visting
of-women race
makes them enslaved
to-you, o you Venus


               That etc.

Bacchus veins penetrating
warm with-liquid
makes them aflame
of-Venus with-passion

                That etc.

Bacchus easy easing
cares and sorrows
confers jesting, joys
laughs and loves

                 That etc.

All to-you we-sing
greatest commendations
you praising deservedly
times through all

​                That etc. x 3
​There is also a rather different interpretation of the song from Ensemble Unicorn and Oni Wytars:
Ensemble Unicorn's version repeats the refrain only after every third stanza and  includes these additional ones,  some of which are frequently thought too risqué to perform nowadays:
​
Ex hōc cyphō cōnsciī
bibent suī dominī
bibent suī sociī
bibent et amīcī

Bachus mentem fēminae
solet hīc līnīre
cōgit eam citius
virō cōnsentīre.

 
Ā quā prōrsus coitum
nequit impetrāre
Bachus illam facile
solet expugnāre.

 
Bachus nūmen faciēns
hominem jocundum
reddit eum pariter
doctum et facundum.

 
Bache, Deus inclite,
omnēs hīc astantēs
laetī sumus mūnera
tua praelibantes.


From this cup as-accomplices
​will-drink one's masters
will drink one's associates
will-drink also friends

Bacchus mind of-a-woman 
is-accustomed here to-soften
he-makes her more-quickly
 to-a-man say-yes 

From-whom absolutely sex
one-cannot get-by-asking
Bacchus her easily
is-accustomed to-take-by-storm

Bacchus the-god making
a-person merry
renders him equally
learned and eloquent

Bacchus. god renowned.
​all here standing-by
happy we-are gifts
​your tasting-in-advance

Another well-known song,  `Tempus est iocundum' (The season is pleasant) is also on YouTube, with illustrations and Latin subtitles in the same style as the first of the two `Bacche,, bene venies' versions.   The refrain includes the clebrated line `Iam amore virginali totus ardeo' (Now  I totally burn with love for a maiden). Spanish and English translations of the whole song  are available  on YouTube by clicking `SHOW MORE' under the video.  
A more restrained version of `Tempus est iocundum' is provided by the group Datura

The German band In Extremo specialise, like Corvus Corax, in combining medieval song with a modern musical interpretation.  Here is their heavy metal version of `Hiemali tempore' (In  wintertime).  The spelling in the lyrics given below has been regularised on classical lines but those given in the video retain the medieval forms :
HIEMALI TEMPORE

Hiemali tempore
wintery       in-time
Dum prata marcent frigore
while  meadows are-weak  with-cold
Et aquae  congelescunt
and waters     freeze
Concurrunt in aestuario
rush-together      in  a-warm-room
Qui        regnant cum decio
those-who are-kings  with  the-dice
Et postquam convalescent
and  after               they-recover-strength
Socius a socio
friend     by friend
Ludus    incitatur
the-game  is-encouraged
Qui    vestitus venerat nudus reparatur
he-who clothed     had-come     naked    ends-up
Ei              trepidant divitiae
before-him tremble            riches   (i.e. the rich tremble before the one)
Cui        paupertas semper servit    libere
to-whom  poverty          always  gives-service freely  (i.e. who has always been poor)

Salutemus            socii
lets-greet-each-other  friends
Nos qui sumus bibuli
we     who        are       fond-of-drinking
Tabernam sicco ore
the-tavern          dry     with-mouth
Optemus alacriter
let’s-choose enthusiastically
Cyphi impleantur     iugiter
glasses   let-them-be-filled continuously
Potemus solito more
let’s drink         usual in-way

Here is another song by the same group - `In taberna gloria!',  on the joys of drinking in the pub.  `Meum est propositum in taberna mori' is a quote from stanza 12 0f  poem191  in the Carmina Burana, which was probably written in the 1160s by an author known as  `the Archpoet'.   An English version of the whole poem is available on the Poetry in Translation site and the same translation can be read in parallel with the Latin text on the CARMINA MEDIAEVALIA page in linguae.
IN TABERNA GLORIA

Magis quam ecclesiam
more    than   church
Diligo tabernam
I-love    tavern
Loqui  facit socios
to-speak it-makes friends
Optimum Latinum
better      Latin
Meum est propositum
my           is     intention
In taberna mori
In     tavern     to-die

Vinum sit   appositum
wine  may-it-be placed opposite
Sitientis oris
Thirsty  mouth
In taberna gloria (x 4)

Vinum super omnia
wine  above all-things
Bonum diligamus
good  let-us-love
Nam purgantur vitia
for  are washed-away faults
Dum vinum potamus
while    wine       we-drink
Cum nobis  copia
with         us   (there is) plenty
Vinum dum clamamus
wine    while  we-shout-for
Qui vivis in gloria
who  live  in glory
Te  Deum laudamus
you  God       we-praise
In taberna gloria (x 4)


Another band using Latin for their lyrics is the German group `Lesiem'. A number of their songs have been uploaded to Youtube, but the Latin is not very grammatical and they appear really to be just playing with the words. 

`Franciscae meae laudes', a Lain poem included in Charles Baudelaire's Les fleurs du mal, is sung here by Juliette Noureddine, one of France's best known female singers. The video has French subtitles:
​Novis te cantabo chordis
O novelletum quod ludis
In solitudine cordis

Esto sertis implicata
O femina delicata
Per quam solvuntur peccata !

Sicut beneficum Lethe
Hauriam oscula de te
Quae imbuta es magnete

Quum vitiorium tempestas
Turbabat omnes semitas
Apparuisti, Deitas.

Velut stella salutaris
In naufragiis amaris… 
Suspendam cor tuis aris !

Piscina plena virtutis
Fons aeternae juventutis
Labris vocem redde mutis !

Quod erat spurcum, cremasti
Quod rudius, exaequasti : 
Quod debile, confirmasti

In fame mea taberna
In nocte mea lucerna
Recte me semper guberna.

​Adde nunc vires viribus
Dulce balneum suavibus
Unguentatum odoribus

Meos circa lumbos mica,
O castitatis lorica
Aqua tincta seraphica

Patera gemmis corusca
Panis salsus, mollis esca
Divinum vinum, Francisca !
I will sing about you on new strings
O young sapling, you who play
In the solitude of my heart

Be wreathed with garlands
O delicious woman
Through whom sins are absolved

Like a favour from Lethe
I will drink up kisses from you
Who are imbued with magnetism

When a storm of vices
Was confounding all paths
You appeared, Deity

As a star of salvation
​In shipwrecks you are loved
I will hang up my heart on your altar!

Pool full of virtue
Fountain of eternal youth
Restore voice to dumb lips!

What was impure, you have burned
What was unshaped, you have made level
What was weak, you have strengthened

In hunger my tavern
In the night my lantern
Always guide me rightly

Add now strength to strength
Sweet bath anointed with pleasing
Scents anointed

Shine around my loins
O shield of chastity
Infused with angelic water

Dish gleaming with jewels
Savoury bread, soft morsel
​Divine wine, Francisca

Another song from the Carmina Burana. performed by Hungarian musician Arany Zoltán and his group.
In taberna quando sumus,
non curamus quid sit humus,
sed ad ludum properamus,
cui semper insudamus.
Quid agatur in taberna
ubi nummus est pincerna,
hoc est opus ut queratur,
si quid loquar, audiatur.

Quidam ludunt, quidam bibunt,
quidam indiscrete vivunt.
Sed in ludo qui morantur,
ex his quidam denudantur
quidam ibi vestiuntur,
quidam saccis induuntur.
Ibi nullus timet mortem
sed pro Baccho mittunt sortem:

Primo pro nummata vini,
ex hac bibunt libertini;
semel bibunt pro captivis,
post hec bibunt ter pro vivis,
quater pro Christianis cunctis
quinquies pro fidelibus defunctis,
sexies pro sororibus vanis,
septies pro militibus silvanis.

Octies pro fratribus perversis,
nonies pro monachis dispersis,
decies pro navigantibus
undecies pro discordantibus,
duodecies pro penitentibus,
tredecies pro iter agentibus.
Tam pro papa quam pro rege
bibunt omnes sine lege.

Bibit hera, bibit herus,
bibit miles, bibit clerus,
bibit ille, bibit illa,
bibit servus cum ancilla,
bibit velox, bibit piger,
bibit albus, bibit niger,
bibit constans, bibit vagus,
bibit rudis, bibit magus.

Bibit pauper et egrotus,
bibit exul et ignotus,
bibit puer, bibit canus,
bibit presul et decanus,
bibit soror, bibit frater,
bibit anus, bibit mater,
bibit ista, bibit ille,
bibunt centum, bibunt mille.

Parum durant sex nummate
ubi ips' immoderate
bibunt omnes sine meta.
Quamvis bibant mente leta,
sic nos rodunt omnes gentes
et sic erimus egentes.
Qui nos rodunt confundantur
et cum iustis non scribantur.
When we are in the tavern
we do not bother what the ground  is
but we hurry to the game
​at which we always sweat
What is done in the tavern
where money is the cupbearer
this is what needs to be asked
whatever I say, let it be listened to

Some gamble, some drink
some live loosely
But those who spend time in gambling
of these some are stripped bare
some are clothes there [i.e. win clothes staked by others]
some are dressed in sacks
There nobody fears death
but they roll the dice for Bacchus

First for the price of the wine
from it the libertines drink
once they drink for captives
after that for the third time for the living[1]
fourth for all Christians
fifth for the faithful departed
sixth for empty-headed sisters
seventh for the soldiers in the woods [outlaws in the forest]

Eighth for transgressing brothers
ninth for scattered monks
tenth for those sailing
eleventh for squabblers
twelfth for the penitent
thirteenth for travellers
both for the pope and the king
all drink without restraint

The mistress drinks. the master drinks
the soldier drinks, the priest drinks
the man drinks, the woman drinks
the servant drinks with the maid
the swift man drinks, the lazy one drinks
the white man drinks, the black man drinks
the settled man drinks, the wanderer drinks
the stupid man drinks, the wise man drinks

The poor man drinks and the sick one
the exile drinks and the stranger drinks
the boy drinks, the white-haired man drinks
the bishop drinks, the deacon drinks
the sister drinks, the brother drinks
the old woman drinks and the mother
that woman drinks, that man drinks
a hundred drink, a thousand drink

Six coins last too liitle
when they drink immoderately, 
all drink without limit
Although they drink with cheerful mind
all peoples scold us thus
and thus we will be in need
Let those who scold us be confounded
​and not be inscribed with the just

​
[1] The series ter, quater etc, normally means `three times, four times' etc but in this context they are evidently equivalent to `for the third time' etc.
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