I have fond memories of Carmina Burana, Carl Orff’s setting of poems and songs from the Burana Codex. I played the clarinet in the school band and I practiced like crazy so that my instrument would not be the one that squeaked during O Fortuna.

And, considering the financial mess our country is in, O Fortuna seems appropriate. But these lyrics are different — so it’s not quite a lament of dispair.

Happy Friday!