What a 800-Year-Old Work Can Remind Us About Life in Penang
- 23 hours ago
- 4 min read
By Khin Hooi
People lang often like to gather and chat, especially over a meal by the roadside. Sometimes, they engage in debate over where our UNESCO World Heritage Status is taking us, and whether Penang is slowly losing its old charm. It feels like every week, there is something new for people to discuss. At times, I wonder if this is what people long ago would call fate or fortune. Things change, sometimes for better, sometimes for worse, and often beyond our control. In many ways, this reminds me of O Fortuna, the famous opening movement from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff. The music speaks about the wheel of fortune constantly turning, lifting people up and bringing them down again.
What many people may not know is that Carmina Burana was based on a collection of poems written around 700 to 800 years ago. Orff selected 24 poems from a medieval manuscript and turned them into a cantata filled with rhythm, energy, celebration, drinking songs, love songs, and reflections about fate. Orff composed his masterpiece around 90 years ago from 1935 to 1936. What I find interesting is that these poems were not written only by kings or noble people. Some came from students, monks, and wandering scholars. Even after hundreds of years, the emotions inside these poems still feel familiar today.
That is probably why classical music or old literature still matters in modern times. Human emotions do not really change that much. People in medieval Europe worried about uncertainty, celebrated good times, gathered with friends, fell in love, and questioned life. People in Penang today are not very different. The setting may have changed, but the emotions are still there. That is why I feel audiences here can still connect deeply with Carmina Burana and here is my attempt to convince the audiences, by plucking some texts from the poems.
One section from the work that I really enjoy is Ecce Gratum.
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"Ecce gratum et optatum
Ver reducit gaudia"
"Behold, welcome and desired,
Spring brings back joy."
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In medieval Europe, spring was something worth celebrating because winter could be harsh. There were no modern heaters or comforts like today. Spring meant warmth, food, life, and hope returning again. Of course, Penang does not have four seasons, so we experience things differently. Still, I think we have our own version of this feeling. Festive seasons always bring excitement to Penang, but personally, one thing I always look forward to is the blooming of the Tecoma trees around the island. Some people call them the "Malaysian Sakura". They may not be as famous as cherry blossoms in Japan, but when the flowers appear across the streets, it somehow changes the mood of the city. It feels refreshing and hopeful in its own Penang way.
Another famous section is In taberna quando sumus.
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"In taberna quando sumus
Non curamus quid sit humus"
"When we are in the tavern,
We do not think how we will end."
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The poem talks about tavern culture in medieval times, where people gathered to drink, sing, gamble, and escape from daily worries. Penang may not have medieval taverns, but the spirit of communal gathering still feels very familiar here. In Penang, people gather over food. Hawker centres are places Penangites take pride in. Mamak stalls become places where people meet late at night to watch football, chat with friends, or simply spend time together over a cup of teh tarik. Sometimes it is not even about the food itself, but the feeling of being together. In a way, that spirit is not too far away from the communal energy found inside Carmina Burana.
Then there is In trutina.
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"In trutina mentis dubia
Fluctuant contraria"
"In the wavering balance of my feelings,
Opposing emotions struggle within me."
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The song speaks about emotional conflict and love. Usually, people interpret this as romantic love, but I think love can also exist between people and the place they call home. Today, social media is full of discussions about Penang. Sharings about traffic, overcrowding, weather, development, and many other things. But deep inside, I think many of these sharings actually come from love. People share because they care. They want Penang to remain a place they are proud of, a place connected to memories, family, food, culture, and daily life.
At the end of Carmina Burana, O Fortuna returns once again, bringing the work back to where it began.
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"O Fortuna
Velut luna
Statu variabilis"
"O Fortune,
Like the moon,
You are constantly changing."
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Life in Penang will continue to change. Some things will improve, some things may frustrate us, and some things may disappear with time. But perhaps that is also the reason why Carmina Burana still feels relevant today. Even after almost 800 years, it continues to reflect the same human experiences we still go through now. Maybe classical music is not as distant from modern life as people think. Sometimes, it is simply another way for us to understand ourselves and the world around us a little better. If you managed to read until here, did you notice the beginning and ending of this article talks about "fortune"? Like how Orff composed his famous cantata.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or opinions of the organization.
Photos are used with permission from photographer Mr. Cheong Wah Yeap.
As of posting, tickets are still available for Carmina Burana, presented by Penang Philharmonic Orchestra and Choruses on 28th June, 2026.
Details here: https://www.ticket2u.com.my/event/49958/carmina-burana
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