Caedmon's Hymn  
for a cappella chorus  

The poem, Caedmon's Hymn, the earliest known Old English poem, was written between 657 and 680. The poet Caedmon of the monastery of Whitby, who was formerly unable to sing, had a dream in which he sang this Hymn. On awaking he made known his new gift of song and was taken before the Abbess Hild, who instructed him to become a monk. He did so, and wrote many other poems on religious subjects. Caedmon's Hymn is the first poem to adapt vernacular English of the Anglo-Saxons to Christian subject-matter. [DKG]

17th c. Anglo-Saxon translation

Now must we praise
the Creator's might,
glorius Father of men!
Lord eternal,

He first framed
the heaven as a roof;
then mid-earth
the eternal Lord
the earth for men

the Guardian of heaven's kingdom
and his mind's thought;
as of every wonder he,
formed the beginning.

for the children of earth
Holy Creator!
the Guardian of mankind;
afterwards produced
Lord Almighty!