O Fortuna

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Story behind the song:
It was impossible to turn down an invitation from one of our fans (Brad and Andrea Harker) to visit a private race track in the middle of the Nevada desert just outside of Las Vegas. We took our cameras with us and a new tune that we created just for the occasion. Thanks to a number of subscribers for the suggestion to remake this epic classical piece by Carl Orff! It was one of three possibilities we were considering when writing with the race track in mind. In the end it was no contest; especially when we read the English transition of the Latin lyrics in the piece -- which speak of fate like a "wheel" and a "driving force!" Our version of O Fortuna was so much fun to create that it was done in a matter of three days (we couldn't let ourselves do anything else until it was finished). It consists of 6 piano tracks, 43 acoustic cello tracks, 3 percussion tracks, and 48 vocal tracks.

A special thanks to Orin Harker (He owns the white car) , along with his wife Val, who hosted us, gave us all the ride of our lives, and taught us about the coolness of Radical Racing! They definitely went the "extra mile" with us in so many ways -- we are indebted to them. They even treated us to a steak dinner...good thing too, because we would have just had some cheap pizza! =)

Also thanks to our other driver, Simon Shepherd, Owner Jon Morris, and manager Dave Petrie of
http://www.SpringMountainMotorSports.com

Music produced by Al van der Beek & Steven Sharp Nelson
Arrangement written by Steven Sharp Nelson, Al van der Beek & Jon Schmidt
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Al van der Beek at TPG Studios
Piano: Jon Schmidt
Cellos: Steven Sharp Nelson
Percussion: Al van der Beek

Cinematographer/Editor
Shaye Scott
Cinematographer
Paul Anderson

Vocals:
Alyssa Powers
Amy Talbot
Julie Nelson
Catherine Bohman
Al van der Beek
Steven Sharp Nelson

Original Composition O Fortuna from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff
Piano movers/roadies: Jeremy Crawford and Frank Nelson

Words (Latin with English translation)

O Fortuna (O Fortune)
velut luna (like the moon)
statu variabilis (you are changeable)
Sors immanis (Fate - monstrous)
et inanis, (and empty)
rota tu volubilis, (you whirling wheel)
obumbrata (shadowed)
et velata (and veiled)
michi quoque niteris; (you plague me too;)

Est affectus (driven on)
et defectus (and weighted down)
semper in angaria. (always enslaved.)
egestatem, (poverty)
potestatem (and power)
dissolvit ut glaciem. (it melts them like ice.)
O Fortuna (O Fortune)
velut luna (like the moon)
statu variabilis (you are changeable)