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This article is from the Classical music FAQ, by Gabe M. Wiener gabe@panix.com with numerous contributions by others.

12. What are the words to the first movement? (the one in all the movies) (Classical music)

Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi               Fortune, Empress of the World
1. O Fortuna                           1. O Fortune
  Coro                                   Chorus
  
O fortuna,                             O fortune,
velut Luna                             like the moon
statu variabilis,                      you are changeable,
semper crescis,                        ever waxing
aut decrescis                          and waning;
vita detestabilis                      hateful life
nunc obdurat                           first oppresses
et tunc curat                          and then soothes
ludo mentis aciem;                     as fancy takes it;
egestatem,                             poverty
potestatem                             and power
dissolvit ut glaciem.                  it melts away like ice.
  
Sors immanis                           Fate - monstrous
et inanis.                             and empty.
rota tu volubilis.                     You whirling wheel,
status malus                           you are malevolent,
vana salus                             well-being is in vain
semper dissolubilis,                   and always fades to nothing.
obumbrata                              Shadowed
et velata                              and veiled
mihi quoque niteris;                   you plague me too;
nunc per ludum                         now through the game
dorsum nudum                           I bring my bare back
fero tui sceleris.                     to your villainy.
  
Sors salutis                           Fate is against me
et virtutis                            in health
mihi nunc contraria                    and virtue,
est affectus                           driven on
et defectus                            and weighted down,
semper in angaria.                     always enslaved.
Hac in hora                            So at this hour
sine mora                              without delay
cordum pulsum tangite;                 pluck the vibrating strings;
quod per sortem                        since Fate
sternit fortem,                        strikes down the strong man,
mecum omnes plangite !                 everyone weep with me !

 

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• next: 13. How do you pronounce all those conductors', composers', and performers' names? (Classical music)

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