Ecce gratum Ecce gratum "Ecce gratum" (English: "Behold, the pleasant") is a medieval Latin Goliardic poem written early in the 13th century, part of the collection known as the "Carmina Burana". It was set to music in 1935/36 by German composer Carl Orff as part of his "Carmina Burana" which premiered at Frankfurt Opera on 8 June 1937. Within Orff's "Carmina Burana", this song is the 5th movement in section 1, "Primo vere" (In Spring). <poem lang="la" style="float:left;">Ecce gratum et optatum Ver reducit gaudia, purpuratum floret pratum, Sol serenat omnia. Iamiam cedant tristia! Estas redit, nunc recedit Hyemis sevitia. Ah! Iam liquescit
Carmina Burana established expectations of life in the Middle Ages." The literary researcher Christine Kasper considers this description of a bawdy paradise as part of the early history of the European story of the land of Cockaigne: in CB 222 the "abbas Cucaniensis", or Abbot of Cockaigne, is said to have presided over a group of dice players. Almost nothing is known about the authors of the "Carmina Burana". Only a few songs can be ascribed to specific authors, such as those by Hugh Primas of Orléans (died c. 1160), by the Archpoet (died c. 1165), by Frenchman Walter of Châtillon (died