Scorching Hot Valentines…
Danny Johnson
Codex Buranus, München: Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 4660, f. 72v
…for my Friend, Billy Pilgrim
My “Spidey sense” tells me that it’s Valentine’s Day! Dang, I didn’t put up a tree or anything. Didn’t send any cards. Bought no prezzies. Didn’t think of putting up any lights, although I guess I could finally take down my Halloween decorations. Then again, Halloween is just around the corner, I think, so I may as well leave them up. That reminds me that my email used to be @soon.com, in honor of the curious relationship I have with time. I’m thinking about changing my ways. Maybe next year or so. You know: ’ish.
Anyway, since it’s Valentine’s Day, then that means we have must have a concert coming up. Or perhaps we already did it? Nope, nope, I’m pretty sure we haven’t done it because I’m really looking forward to it. I do remember that I haven’t experienced the joys of a live Medieval Carmina Burana concert in about 6 years, so it’s still on the way. And speaking of love poetry for Valentine’s Day, those 13th-century poets wrote some scorchers! Carmina Burana is just full of them! You should send Billy Pilgrim an earnest/scorching hot Valentine. Maybe it will entice him to come home from Tralfamadore.
I bet there will be details below. I should look at the details too, so I don’t schedule taking down my Valo-ween decorations at the same time.
But you should watch the video of our December Joy & Light concert before it goes away on Feb 26 and then come to the Carmina Burana concert shortly after that. One can never celebrate too many holidays at the same time.
And Happy Valentine’s Day!
–Danny
THE ORIGINAL CARMINA BURANA:
FORTUNE’S SLIPPERY WAY
Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 7:30 pm
&
Sunday, March 3, 2024, 3:00 pm
Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2111 Alexander Avenue
Hosted by Arts on Alexander on the campus of Redeemer Presbyterian Church,
2111 Alexander Ave, Austin, TX 78722.
Visit the Arts on Alexander 2023-2024 events on the AoA website.
Admission $35 general; $30 seniors (60+); $5 students with ID
Tickets available in advance online or by cash, check, or credit card at the door.
For more information, call 512-377-6961 and leave a message,
or email info@early-music.org.
Neil deGrasse Tyson mentioned the 13th-century manuscript Carmina Burana on his documentary TV series, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey! What he didn’t say was that it contains unabashedly joyful and passionate songs about love, spring, mythology, love, dancing, drinking, love, flirting, philosophy, and…love!
Although Carmina Burana was given wide name recognition in 1937 by the composer Carl Orff, whose cantata of the same title popularized some of the Medieval texts and brought its existence into the light, the original version deserves just as much attention. With images of the cycle of the seasons and melodies which were often based on the most popular tunes, polyphony, and dances from Western Europe at the time, the songs of Carmina Burana reflect the lives of the 12th- and 13th-century Bavarian monks and students who collected and/or composed the pieces in this famous anthology. The poems, at once sensual and refined, satirical and sincere, offer a fascinating glimpse into life in the late Middle Ages. There are songs of love and flirtation, verses in praise of good food and good wine, diatribes against gossip and jealousy, odes to mythical heroes—all of these and much more are found in this extraordinary compilation of songs, dances, and chants.
The music is as varied as the texts, with melodies that are memorable and hummable. There are melodies clearly influenced by chant, by popular tunes, or by dances—sometimes all within the same song. Some of the selections from the Carmina Burana are among the most popular of TEMP’s medieval repertoire: Veris dulcis in tempore, sung by women, is both haunting and joyful in its exultation of springtime and the importance of love; Sic mea fata canendo solor is an exultant ode from a young man as he thinks about his love and describes his feelings in delicious detail! Did we mention that this concert is rated PG-13?
TEMP will feature some of its favorite soloists, including Jenifer Thyssen, Cayla Cardiff, Jenny Houghton, Jeffrey Jones-Ragona, Page Stephens, Ryland Angel, and others. Our 10-piece medieval orchestra with its enchanting timbres and delightful combinations features medieval fiddles or vielles, oud, early harps, psaltery, recorder, and more. Of particular interest will be the northern European string instruments kantele and jouhikko, played by Viktoria Nizhnik.
Prepare for the arrival of spring with this rousing look at Medieval passions!
Click on the image above to buy tickets now!
