You will find many "free" PDFs floating around on sites like IMSLP or random file-sharing forums. However, a huge warning is necessary here:
Carmina Burana was published in 1937, and Carl Orff died in 1982. In most of the world (including the US and EU), this work is still under copyright (typically life + 70 years).
For those interested in performing or studying the 2-piano, percussion arrangement of Carmina Burana, the PDF can be sourced through various online music libraries and retailers. Some reputable sources include:
When searching for the arrangement, ensure to use specific keywords like "Carmina Burana 2 pianos percussion PDF" to yield the most relevant results.
You have three excellent legal options to get a digital copy of this masterpiece.
The percussion parts are not optional. They are woven into the fabric of the score. For O Fortuna, the timpani roll and bass drum strokes must lock perfectly with the pianos’ low octaves. For In Taberna Quando Sumus (the drinking song), the xylophones and glockenspiels double the piano’s melodic lines to create a medieval, skeletal sound.
For a complete performance, you need:
Note: In the two-piano version, some percussion cues are doubled or cued in the pianos for rehearsal flexibility.
No—it is harder for the keyboardists, but easier for everyone else.