Language

»I found a particular style of language which exactly corresponded with the style of music which I had in mind.«^[1]

: »Language was always a primary objective in my music theatre works [...], and in the ›Bernauerin‹ the spoken word becomes the ultimate creative source [...].«[2] (Carl Orff recites the role of the Gagler from Astutuli)

(Carl Orff recites the role of the Gagler from Astutuli)

: »In his treatment of the Latin language, he developed a highly individual relationship between words and music which undergoes further development in ›Carmina burana‹ [...] and is extended to the treatment of German texts: language more as a rhythmic-melodic substance than as an individual medium of meaning.«[3] (Carl Orff 1953), Photo: Ingeborg Sello

: »As soon as I read through the text for the first time, it became clear to me that my chief task would be to start with the music inherent in Hölderlin’s language.« (Carl Orff on his work on ›Antigonae‹)[4] (Carl Orff 1942), Photo: Inge Mantler

: »And only his music, linguistic artistry and the educational dimension of a music born out of the spirit of language and a language born out of the spirit of music would lead the way towards the perception of his creative work.«[5] (Carl Orff in his study, Maillingerstraße 16, Munich 1936), Photo: Otto Moll

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^{[1] CO-Dok V,117; [2] CO-Dok VI,19; [3] Karl Marx: Erinnerungen an Carl Orff, in: Carl Orff. Ein Gedenkbuch, ed. Horst Leuchtmann, Tutzing 1985, p. 107; [4] CO-Dok VII,12; [5] Wilhelm Keller: Zeugenaussagen über Carl Orff und sein Werk, in: Carl Orff. Ein Gedenkbuch, ed. Horst Leuchtmann, Tutzing 1985, S. 12/13
Images : 2 Ingeborg Sello; 3 Inge Mantler; 4 OZM (Photo Otto Moll) probably broadcast by South-West German Radio February 1958
Video: Media Programm/Werner Lütje, 1990}

Carl Orff working with Kieth Engen on the role of Okeanos.

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