Death to Carmina Burana

I reach for my gun every time I hear Orff's 'Carmina Burana'; and I hear it everywhere: TV, film, amateur videos on Youtube. I can't think of a more pervasive piece of music utilized in media. Ever. Why is it? How is it? Yes, it's an exhilarating composition with driving rhythms, bombast, and is widely accessible, given it was written in the 1930s. I just don't understand the preeminent role it plays, how absolutely over saturated it has become. Gotta put baby to bed? Brahms 'lullaby'. Gettin' married? Wagner's 'wedding march' (the actual wedding march from 'Lohengrin', at least). Need a musical solution for your action movie/horror movie/car commercial/etc.? Look no further, as 'Carmina Burana' can automatically connect with your target audience!

How does it connect? We've heard it all before, is how, as it omnipresent. The question really should be, how is it connecting? What is its connotive value? Since we've heard it before, wouldn't something more unique work better? Isn't ownership an issue? It's your project, so why emulate and dilute? Get creative. Take a risk.

Leave 'Carmina Burana' to the concert hall, at least while the rest of us catch up.