"O Fortuna" (from Carmina Burana)

"O Fortuna" is a powerful choral piece from "Carmina Burana," a cantata composed by Carl Orff in the 1930s. The piece explores themes of fate and fortune, depicting the unpredictable nature of life. It opens with a dramatic plea to "Fortune," personifying fate as capricious and often cruel. The music features intense dynamics and a sweeping melody, contributing to its popularity in popular culture, often used in films and commercials. The piece captures the emotional turmoil of life's highs and lows, resonating universally with human experiences of joy, despair, and the relentless passage of time.