Carl Orff was an influential 20th-century German composer and music educator, best known for his monumental cantata "Carmina Burana." Born in Munich, he developed an innovative approach to music education for children known as the Orff Schulwerk, which combines music, movement, drama, and speech. His compositional style is characterized by its powerful rhythms, simple harmonies, and dramatic, often primal, impact, drawing inspiration from medieval and folk sources. Despite controversy surrounding his activities during the Nazi era, Orff's work, especially "Carmina Burana," remains a staple of the classical repertoire worldwide.