O Dell Omo - Apologies to Orff Lovers Every Where . . .

In 2014, Westminster Symphonic Choir was accompanied by NJ Symphony Orchestra  for Orff's Carmina Burina.  So this popular classical song O Fortuna is no doubt an old favorite to many recent Westminster Choir College graduates and some graduate students still at the college.

The song is often used in scary movie scenes and if you do not know the story, you might think the song is about some haunting ritual.  The song is actually about debauchery, drinking and other fun.  However - the song also lends itself for a repurposing as an expression of opposition to the shuttering of the beloved Princeton Westminster Choir College - a sort of haunting if you will of the administration by the idea of an actively opposing student body.

In fact - we have done just that.  I have commissioned my son who is a graduate piano student at Westminster Choir College who is very much opposed the possible shuttering of the Princeton campus.

The lyrics are mine, however and I bear full responsibility for them.

I am interested in putting together another rendition.  I am willing to hire 6 students for 1 hour each for a re-recording of all 6 parts.  This is a very low paying job but it will be slightly higher than what Rider pays its minimum wage earning students.  Contact Bob Witanek on Facebook or bwitanek@igc.org to arrange participation.

You can express interest through this group as well:

Save Westminster Cultural Project

The idea also has come in to create a virtual chorus - to allow folks from afar to record voice tracks with the piano track in their ears - the recorded track should be voice only - and to get an audio expert to splice them all together - let's see if we can make that happen also.

For now we have a solo version sung by Robert in B Flat minor and a piano track in D minor for accompaniment practice for those that want to work on the parts.

Vocals B Flat Minor



Piano Track D Minor

Lyrics

O WESTMINSTER
STAND TOGETHER
WE MUST PROTECT WESTMINSTER

O DELL OMO
THIS DEAL MUST GO
DON’T DARE THREATEN WESTMINSTER

O DELL OMO
WE’RE SAYING NO
NOT FOR SALE AT WESTMINSTER

YOU HEED OUR SONG
WE ‘LL SING IT STRONG
JOIN THE FIGHT FOR WESTMINSTER

Repeat above stanza

Finale:

O DELL OMO
ITS TIME TO GO
NO CONFIDENCE WHAT WE SAY

WE ORGANIZE
WE MOBILIZE
WE MUST STOP THIS BIG MISTAKE

WE UNIFY
SING BATTLE CRY
RAISE OUR VOICE THE CHORUS WAY

AND WHEN WE WIN
WE SAY AGAIN
WESTMINSTER SHALL IN PRINCETON STAY

Possible Arrangement to follow,

Videos were created according to my precise spec with minimal rehearsal as public service announcement, prototype and introductory tool.  Any fault with the recording is mine as it was done precisely to my specification.