Carl Orff

Full biography Carl Orff

Carl Orff was a German composer and music educator who lived from 1895 to 1982. He is perhaps best known for his 1937 cantata, Carmina Burana, which was inspired by a collection of medieval poems. Orff was a versatile composer who wrote in many genres, including opera, ballet, and choral music.

During his career, Orff was also an influential music educator who developed a teaching method known as the Orff Schulwerk. This approach emphasized the use of rhythm and movement to engage students and promote musical learning in a playful and creative way.

Orff's music was complex and often drew on elements of folk music and ancient traditions, as well as modernist techniques such as atonality and polyrhythm. His music was influential in the development of the post-war avant-garde movement in Germany.

Despite his musical achievements, Orff's legacy has been somewhat tarnished by his association with the Nazi regime in Germany. While he is not believed to have been a Nazi sympathizer himself, he did collaborate with the regime and his music was promoted by the Nazi party.

Despite this controversy, Orff's works continue to be performed and recorded today, and his influence can be heard in the music of many contemporary composers.