Olim Lacus Colueram

Carl Orff's composition, 'Olim Lacus Colueram,' is a part of his larger work, 'Carmina Burana,' which is a collection of medieval poems set to music. This particular piece is a lament sung from the perspective of a swan that has been roasted and is now being served as a meal. The lyrics, written in Latin, convey a deep sense of loss and transformation, using the swan as a metaphor for purity and beauty that has been corrupted and destroyed.

The song begins with the swan reminiscing about its past life, where it was once beautiful and free, symbolized by the lines 'Olim lacus colueram, olim pulcher extiteram, dum cignus ego fueram.' This reflects a nostalgic longing for a time when the swan was admired and untainted. The repetition of 'Miser, miser!' emphasizes the swan's current state of misery and despair, now 'niger et ustus fortiter'—blackened and strongly burned.

As the song progresses, the swan describes its current plight, being turned on a spit and roasted, 'me rogus urit fortiter,' and finally served on a platter, 'Nunc in scutella iaceo.' The imagery of the swan seeing the gnashing teeth of those about to consume it, 'dentes frendentes video,' adds a layer of horror and helplessness to its fate. This transformation from a majestic creature to a mere dish serves as a powerful allegory for the loss of innocence and the inevitable decay that comes with time and circumstance.

Orff's musical style, characterized by its rhythmic intensity and dramatic flair, enhances the tragic and ironic tone of the lyrics. The use of Latin, a language often associated with liturgical and classical texts, adds a timeless and universal quality to the swan's lament, making it a poignant reflection on the human condition and the transient nature of beauty and life.