CORVUS CORAX

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 on this page, 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 medieval pronunciation. The ancient pronunciation was the same as that of the diphthong in English `die'.

De Mundi Statu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6rB696l3UM&feature=related

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

Custodes sunt Raptores

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpgsqIj_C34

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!'

A full concert, `Cantus Buranus', is available on DVD and currently (August 2016) also on Youtube:

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. A version of the drinking song `Bacche, bene venies' (Welcome, God of Wine) in similar style to Pickett's is 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 stanza - see the Paroles-musique and St.Celia Press sites)

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:

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. Spanish and English translations are provided in one of the comments under the video (click on the arrows to the right of the first line).

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