Caedmon's Hymn

for a cappella chorus

Music © David Gompper

17th c. Anglo-Saxon translation

Now must we praise, the Guardian of heaven's kingdom
the Creator's might, and his mind's thought;
glorius Father of men! as of every wonder he,
Lord eternal, formed the beginning.

He first framed for the children of earth
the heaven as a roof; Holy Creator!
then mid-earth the Guardian of mankind;
the eternal Lord afterwards produced
the earth for men, Lord Almighty!

Program Notes

The poem, Caedmon's Hymn, the earliest known Old English poem, was written between 657 and 680AD. 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.

Performances

-Kantorei, Timothy Stalter, cond., University of Iowa, September 27, 2000, November 11, 2000 (Clapp) & February 12, 2001 (Hancher)
-Kantorei, William Hatcher, cond., University of Iowa, October 14, 1992
-Southern Methodist University Chamber Singers, Barbara Brinson, cond., Dallas, April 20, 1990
-The University of Texas, San Antonio Concert Choir, John Silantien, cond., San Antonio, Texas, Society of Composers Inc., Region VI Conference, April 28, 1989
-Music for a Summer Evening Concert Series, Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 26, 1986