CAEDMON'S HYMN on the Anglo-Saxon Lyre

This is the earliest known poem in the English language, written in the 7th century, in what is called “Old English”. We know very little about the author, whose name was Caedmon, beyond what was said about him by “The Father of English History”, the monk known as The Venerable Bede (672 - 735 A.D.).
The setting for my performance of the hymn is Odda’s Chapel in Gloucestershire, South West England. The chapel is Anglo-Saxon, built a decade before the Norman invasion.
Although we have the words of the hymn, we have no idea what Caedmon’s music sounded like. I wrote the melody myself after being inspired by an excellent workshop given by the wonderful singer and musicologist, Stef Conner, and her fellow musicologist and ancient music historian, Hanna Marti.

[@mrgab3556]

It always fascinates me how much Old English resembles German. (speaking as a German)

[@the-letter_s]

because they pretty much _were_ germans.

[@mr.delphi.der.cargokultkon654]

yes - just discover the very special saxon dialekt and combine it with the high, nasal pronouncing of the northern celtics - thats it - - more exciting I feel when I feel into the emotion of the difficult german dialects and view the formative history of the appropriate tribes/volks - - I mean you hear in the palatin that they made the first deal with the roman/modern kulture and by the saxons you can hear that they where the last who didnt get along with the Treason of the other german tribes - - and also the bavarian with their saving Alps - hojeholia hidiiih - -

[@joalexsg9741]

@@the-letter_s Germanic, not German, the same difference in the linguistic concept of Slavic, a family of languages of one of the many tongues of the Indo-European tree, and one of the languages of that group. It must be said that even these standard dialects made the official language of a country are themselves but one of many other dialects which have evolved parallel to their sisters in those smaller branches of the boughs in that linguistic tree, the related regional sister languages, which must not be confused with the varieties evolved out of that official dialect proper! In this sense, their classification as individual languages can many times, though not always, be considered more a political interpretation than actually a linguistic reality, as they clearly fit into the smaller branches of languages of that bough in a linguistic tree.

[@Ggdivhjkjl]

English is a Germanic language. The original home of the Angle people was in what's now northern Germany and southern Denmark.

[@gimli1908]

Fun fact: The Franks recruited Anglo-Saxons to convert the Germanic peoples to their east since they could essentially speak Theodisch (the term then for German, note the “deutsch” part at the end!)

[@kermitdfrog1511]

Archaeologists: We discovered forgotten instrument and songs in a language no longer spoken. Peter: Forgotten? I play that proficiently. No longer spoken? I dream in that language.

[@theone-tg4ey]

"seemed pragmatic, I dunno" - Peter , this meme is Jackie weaver approved, I assure you.

[@andriesoliviier9529]

I'm starting to suspect hat Mr. Pringle is, in fact, an immortal bard who has been hopping from one gig to the next for the past 10, 000 years.

[@zaphodb777]

The master bard gifts us again. Words fail to express my appreciation.

[@christophersherman1198]

I ponder if Bards were the Lone Survivors of battles of old. Hence the birth of word of mouth Tradition, depending on Geography. This Man is 💯% professional at every song he re-creates. Absolutely mind bogling to myself. What a Talent!

[@captnconfusion280]

as a native German speaker, i am awestruck and amazed by how similar some of the Old English words sound. this must date back when the two languages barely diverged. edit: i get it, people, you have all made your points, you can stop commenting on the stupid german's post

[@halperin9109]

I noticed that too

[@Ggdivhjkjl]

Considering that he lived on earth only about 200 years after the mitigation from Germany, this is hardly surprising.

[@NightTimeDay]

"Old English developed from a set of Anglo-Frisian or Ingvaeonic dialects originally spoken by German tribes traditionally known as the Angles, Saxons and Jutes. As such, Old English was a "thoroughly Germanic cousin of Dutch and German", unrecognisable as English today" From the Wikipedia page on Old English. It's a very interesting topic :) especially how it developed closer to the English we know today.

[@ineedabetterusername7424]

Plattdeutsch... sort of mixed in with Icelandic pronunciation and Danish cadence. But I guess that's English for ya 😀

[@brownbear992]

As a native English speaker, I can't under stand anything he said lol, maybe they should call it Old German instead of Old English

[@lairdkilbarchan]

...but (strangely enough) not entirely incomprehensible by modern Scots speakers. Wonderful as usual. Thank you. 🙏

[@resourcedragon]

My late mother (who had Scottish parents) used to say that she loved watching Swedish movies on SBS (the Australian multicultural television service) because she didn't need the subtitles, "It's just like Northern English."

[@lairdkilbarchan]

@@resourcedragon Some Highland Scots have a 🎵"hurgen durgen" 🎶 kind of accent similar to that you hear in Norway, Sweden, etc. It's beautiful. 🙂👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@RickrollFoot]

@@resourcedragon lol

[@LandersWorkshop]

@@resourcedragon Wow.

[@caroldixon3952]

Also by Northumbrians.

[@alanhyt79]

How can one hear such ancients sounds and not be astounded? Again, I am blown away. They had Caedmon. We have Peter Pringle.

[@janosch1097]

As a German who also understands Low German ('Low Saxon'), I find some of these lyrics quite comprehensible, but the subtitles also helped a lot here and there (thanks for providing them). Another great performance!

[@LandersWorkshop]

Cool.

[@simianto9957]

Same as a Dutch person

[@minutemansam1214]

He doesn't use 100% correct pronunciation, but it's beautiful regardless.

[@ThomasVonHerzberg]

Low German isnt "Low Saxon" Lower German is Plattdüütsch which is spoken in the North of Germany. The Saxon Dialect is a separate thing..

[@janosch1097]

@@ThomasVonHerzberg That isn't really correct either. Low German, or Niederdeutsch, originated or is the latest form of Altsächsisch. I called Niederdeutsch "Low Saxon" for good reasons, which might not be conventional, but when you look at it, more correct.

[@leone.6190]

3:24 "he erst schoop" "Er erst schuf" in modern german. I love old englisch and old german. It allways brings me Joy knowing that back in the day we where so close language and culture wise. :D 🇬🇧🇩🇪✝️✌🏻

[@resourcedragon]

Google translate tells me "Er erst schuf" is "He first created". I wonder what schuf/schoop morphed into in modern English. I often find Anglo-Saxon words survive in slang or in some regional dialects, even when they are no longer considered to be "good" English.

[@grovermartin6874]

@@resourcedragon My uninformed guess is "shaped," given that "schafen" is to work, maybe used as we "work" the clay or the wood (or other stuff/Stoffe) in English. Just a shot.

[@mistakenmeme]

He erst shope

[@simianto9957]

''Eerst hij schiep'' in Dutch

[@redwaldcuthberting7195]

hē ǣrist scōp is the old English.

[@nachtschatten8710]

What a precious surprise to be gifted yet another gem of sound by you, Peter. And the story behind the hymn was lovely. It has been such a long time since I last heard Old English spoken,- hearing it sung was a first time. Thankyou.

[@resourcedragon]

"It has been such a long time since I last heard Old English spoken," Dude, *how old are you???*

[@BasedZoomer]

@@resourcedragon Beowulf in the original old english is still performed to this day.

[@eliteslayer66]

I don't know how i got here but this was relaxing to listen to. Thanks. EDit: OH! Because of the Epic of Gilgamesh video. Very nice again.

[@cyberbird2014]

same.

[@bullwinkle8266]

I have been transported to 7th century England. There is laughter and song, ale to drink and lasses to behold. Alas, I am not coming back. Thank you, Peter, for another voyage back to a simpler time.

[@FLDE]

I love this man’s voice. It’s so soothing

[@seronymus]

Such a beautiful rendition, immersive and mystical. Saints Caedmon and Hilda pray for us ☦

[@TheGrenadier97]

1:21 - I found it strange that an abess led monks, but it seems that the highly skilled and devoted Saint Hilda of Whitby took care of several combined monastic communities, whose lay part included Caedmon. Amazing History.

[@bliss448]

There's a lot of German in there. Very fascinating. What's even more fascinating is that this song came to Caedmon in a dream. Why don't these kind of things happen to me?

[@ironbard4901]

If you make it a point to remember your dreams, it will happen. Try keeping a dream journal next to your bed - dreams are elusive beasts and fade quickly upon waking. It might also be, that you have been conditioned to disregard the value of dreams.

[@a.katherinesuetterlin3028]

@@ironbard4901 I have found also that the dreams we are meant to remember happen very cinematically, and possibly quite lucidly -- meaning we are taking conscious action out on the dreamscape, even out in other realms entirely. It is for this reason the Australian aborigines view the Spirit/Dream realm as the real world and life on Earth as the illusion. 😉😁

[@ironbard4901]

@@a.katherinesuetterlin3028 That's beautiful! Thanks for sharing this. I don't think I would have learned this otherwise. ^__^

[@WakingUpToday213]

@@ironbard4901 speaks true

[@patrickparsons2378]

Possibly because Caedmon was a fictional creation of Bede, who wrote the hymns himself, to make a theological point.

[@tisFrancesfault]

Caedmon's Hymn Is actually my favourite poem

[@69SalterStreet]

Peter, you've done it again. You really are a treasure and I appreciate your art and your effort.

[@ineedabetterusername7424]

It's interesting to listen with an understanding of English, German, and Swedish -- like, the brain wants to register it as Swedish when you get the "swa" and "så" sounds ("as"), as German when you get the word for "create" and "creator" ("schaffen," "Schöpfer,") -- and then a random "and" thrown in there just to confuse the English speaking part of my brain. Thanks, Cædmon.

[@simianto9957]

Yeah, I'm Dutch and I feel like we can understand Old English much better than a modern English speaker lol. ''schepper'' too as creator which sound very alike

[@minutemansam1214]

@@simianto9957 It's where English gets 'Shaper' from. Basically the same meaning, but largely replaced in the 'creator' capacity by, well, creator.

[@simianto9957]

@@minutemansam1214 Aha, makes sense.

[@Skeptidelphian]

I translated the Wardruna song Helvegen into OE - far easier to do from Norwegian than it is to work from an English translation. There's a brevity to the other Germanic languages that English lost over time.

[@bluewatson4341]

And that Peter’s voice is so deep.. I don’t know what I expected honestly

[@Paraphen]

anybody else randomly get this in their recommendations and now you're like "well guess I'm gonna be real into medieval church music for a while now" or is it just me?

[@Avery-un4he]

You truly have the voice of an angel. I adore everything I learn from your videos, & yours is by far my favorite channel. Every update fills me with indescribable joy.

[@maligjokica]

I first time heard (read) about him reading the book from venerable Bede. Wonderful story, Glory to God for all things+++

[@vandilore]

it’s really interesting that as a speaker of modern english, you can still understand some of the words. creator/create sounds like shaper/shape. almighty just pronounces the h. etc.

[@vandilore]

shape does indeed come from old english

[@simianto9957]

Yea, in Dutch creator is ''schepper'' which sounds very much like whatever he said

[@euroschmau]

So lovely! My favorite contemporary Christian music group took inspiration from the tale of Caedmon, in fact they took on his name: Caedmon's Call. Their music is simple and folkish with a focus on the humility, contemplativeness and love that Jesus commanded of his followers.

[@MAXIMUS23556]

I love this channel and hearing long forgotten songs.

[@christophersherman1198]

Hats off to you Peter, SIR. So much Honor and tradition passed through Music. I'm so glad I found your creation. AMAZING, THE AMOUNT OF WORK YOU MUST HAVE DONE TO BRING THIS TO US. 👏🏻 👍🏻

[@myheartwaves]

This was so fascinating to learn about and beautiful to watch and listen to! I find your channel is the most interesting on YT... thank you for entertaining & educating us!! ♥️

[@SP_3333]

Thank you so very much, Peter, for this glorious little trip through the mists of time. Blessaður á gamalli ensku.

[@obsessivelooter3573]

I liked the history lesson, I never know that passing a lier around was a tradition back then

[@1915FadedBelly]

It’s lovely Peter, a pleasure to listen to your voice and music.

[@fgtrhwu2]

This is wonderful, thank you very much sir

[@shonykelet9960]

Thank you so much for this haunting performance of a precious Anglo-Saxon hymn by an iconic poet! Shared without a shadow of doubt:-)!

[@emmanueldouros8470]

Such a beautiful, musical gem. Heart-warming and beautifully performed. Thank you so much for sharing it with us, Peter.

[@amabilemente]

Your voice and knowledge is amazing 💗

[@fuzzfrancis435]

So beautiful. Brought me to tears. God bless.

[@guileniam]

Archeologists: This is a song in a dead language not heard for thousands of years, we are trying to deci- Peter Pringle: Hold my beer

[@robertdavie1221]

This is fantastic! Thank you for sharing it!

[@VendettaAllan]

Yeah, I'm gonna need a whole album with covers of oldies from this guy.

[@writeract2]

Peter this is an incredible performance on all counts - the music you wrote blends seamlessly with this very old hymn, looks like the spirit of the Lord gifted you as well, and the playing and voice impeccable. Unbelievable that 7th centure English is incomprehensible to our ears - what will we sound like 13-14 centures down the line - God help us and preserve us.

[@byzantiumn8564]

This is BEAUTIFUL

[@orthodoxkupel]

Love your videos Mr. Peter Pringle! Best wishes from Mother Russia

[@leranedlin]

What a beautiful reconstruction! Thank you, Master Peter! 🙏 I will definitely use it in the Music history lessons

[@tedcabana]

Peter, you are always pushing forward, but backwards in history. Love the performance, and I love the historical introduction. You are a treasure to historical musical treasures. Thank you again, for diving deep into history to bring this musical gem back to light.

[@joalexsg9741]

That's a precious performance, even the visual aspects, the ambience and the costume, help us get into that timeless mood. Love your voice pitch as well:-) Thank you so much for this rare moment of refined artistry rescuing ancient treasures.

[@baraskparas9559]

Another gift and treat from a truly great artist of deep learning. Great acoustics in that hall

[@CelestialChorus9827]

Thank you again good sir. Your works are always beautiful and masterful.

[@dmswan3172]

Exquisite instrument and gorgeous performance of this wonderful music and poetry!🧡

[@ADMBPR]

Beautiful! Thank you Peter

[@Jasmine1991forever]

Just so beautiful it moves me to tears.

[@reinier9839]

Dear Peter, Thank you so much for your contribution to humanity's soul. I find it absolutely beautiful, without even listening to your videos.

[@njelique]

Thank you for providing the story behind the hymn. Always love the way you combine theatre with history and your voice, your voice and of course the musical instruments you bring to life. More! More!

[@hikari_manekineko]

I'm picking up German and Norwegian there in Old English. :)

[@CuDobh]

Nothing to be surprised over.... Since English is a Germanic language and a cousin to the Scandinavian languages.

[@SharonCullenArt]

You play it well. And your voice is beautiful. What a gift.

[@pavlohryhorash7078]

May the Eternal Lord Almighty Master bless you Peter! Beautiful as always🤌✨

[@spriggan1437]

I have always wanted to hear this one! Thank you so much for putting in the work to make this!

[@synchro505]

Really appreciate the research, production, musicianship and performance of this hymn. Count myself as very fortunate to have found your channel, Peter. Thank you!

[@CalSprigley]

You have made me feel closer to my ancestors. Many thanks from Hertfordshire. PS you have a great voice

[@ThredithUndomiel]

Thank you for another wonderful song! Your videos are always a wondrous way of listening to songs and melodies from the past.

[@Kasi01]

You’re amazing peter, that intro was really cool, and your song, fantastic as always

[@465maltbie]

Amazing, I have never heard that form of english, thanks for taking the time to produce this. Charles

[@kalolyd6630]

Anglo-Saxon Lyrics from Wikipedia: Nū scylun hergan hefaenrīcaes Uard, metudæs maecti end his mōdgidanc, uerc Uuldurfadur, suē hē uundra gihwaes, ēci dryctin ōr āstelidæ hē ǣrist scōp aelda barnum heben til hrōfe, hāleg scepen. Thā middungeard moncynnæs Uard, eci Dryctin, æfter tīadæ fīrum foldu, Frēa allmectig.

[@aa-uq1qj]

My god this is beautiful & your singing was perfect. You really showed me what old Saxon sounded like & it's amazing.

[@CozyButcher]

Master Bard. Thank you for introducing us to such beautiful history.

[@CrystalTwinStar]

I feel so blessed and favored to have found your channel. Your voice is extraordinary and very resonant with my soul. Thank you so much for your devotion and for sharing your knowledge and musical gifts with us. Blessings and gratitude 😊💝🙏🎶

[@missymoonwillow6545]

Thank You. My soul needed this. Bede has been sort of like a guardian angel to me, and this music stirs something deep inside my spirit. Ever grateful, will certainly listen to this again and again. 🙏🏽😔🙌🏽📿👍🏽

[@simmisaa7905]

Always such a joy to visit your beautiful abloads dear brother ! Love the walk in autumn wood of you and your beautiful play and singing and ...great lyrics of the song . Thank you for share !!!

[@MacKenziePoet]

What a very unique place Peter Pringle occupies in the world of music and poetry. As my country's top traditional lyric poet, I cannot recommend this site more highly. What could be more important than a channel that gives us some idea of how the lost world of the past actually sounded? Mr. Pringle, you've earned a subscriber!

[@abu3184]

In addition to an awesome performance we got some history on the hymn and a cinematic intro... love it!

[@kaimarmalade9660]

So beautiful. Oh Narada; Oh king of Bards. What shall be the song of the age? Who will succeed your Troubadours? Who will sing the song of Gold?

[@amandam480]

Please go o tour Peter my dream is to see you playing live. Wonderful music🎶❤️❤️🎼🎼

[@meowkotikus9150]

This is absolutely brilliant ….. thank you for your art!

[@alwoodsmodellingmayhem]

Thanks for keeping this music and dialect alive.👏👏👏👏👏👍😉

[@marklammas2465]

Beautiful, Peter; you did Caedmon justice there. Old poets never die; they only get the Pringle treatment! That lyre is the bee's knees 😎

[@leone.6190]

This hymn deeply moved me. Amazing work. The beginning section also was very informative and interesting. 👍

[@suecartwright7431]

Sarah, I think you should do a video about you and your life growing up and how you came to be as you are, gifted. Your so interesting and have such a wide knowledge of places, crystals, history and your musical too with a beautiful voice. Your a wee hidden gem, thank you for sharing your gifts 👏👏❤️

[@secretarchivesofthevatican]

Beautiful! Nicely played and presented.

[@patbuckley5607]

Beautiful. Thank you.

[@nozrep]

wow that was really cool! Nice work! There was a pretty popular Christian praise band called “Caedmon’s Call” in the early 00’s that got nationally popular in the US amongst the Christian praise music genre fans. I remember liking their music a lot and singing along with it on the Christian radio stations. I was even briefly acquainted with their keyboardist as we had the same childhood piano teacher but he was basically already a “natural” musician anyways. But I think they have since disbanded as many bands do after a good run. Anyway, I always wondered where that name came from but never took the time to look into it. Now I know!

[@fenyaslack8508]

How serendipitous. I bought the book called ‘the angels bible’ nine days ago. And I just read about Caedmon Hymn, checked KZbin for more information and I found this video. Very moving. Thank you very much!

[@bowlofdiogenes6139]

Not really serendipitous (by chance) you looked for information and you found it.

[@Davccelion]

What a hauntingly, fascinating version of the song. I am playing it one time after another.

[@waterstuff41]

Wow! More Old English please.

[@panzerpatriot4920]

This is so extraordinairy. Sometimes, when I feel deep piece and satisfaction, I too, hear music in my dreams! Played on different instruments, and its never the same, and ALL ABSOLUTELY NEVER HEARD in our physical reality ! There're often incredibly beautiful, and its a such bitter feeling that I could never recreate or replay them because I have no musical education :( although I sometimes did remembered some notes, or sound sentences when woke up.One time during such a dream I even had a feeling as if I was creating and stearing the music by thoughts, or as if my thoughts were the music itself.I hear it mostly without lyrics, but some interesting and essential frases come often separated, from someone or something..and I write it down. Thank you so much for this story, and a superb performance 🙌 I hope to create a similar piece some day myself 🙏

[@robynlewis7490]

When I learned about Anglo-Saxon literature and culture and studied the language, this was my favourite. Thank you for bringing it to life.

[@artbasss]

Beautiful

[@fugithegreat]

It blows my mind that as old as that Anglo-Saxon chapel is, it's still several hundred years newer than this poem. Thanks again for this lovely interpretation! Now more than ever, I want to try making a lyre and this looks to be a simple enough construction that I would dare attempt it.

[@LQOTW]

This was absolutely wonderful, thank you!

[@Erin0metallica]

I know i've commented this multiple times but... I still miss your old videos... :'(

[@KayttakaaHumehia]

Caedmon was just waiting to drop this absolute banger the whole time.

[@joalexsg9741]

This is one of those videos I watch countless times in different times of the year and will be doing so for the rest of my life, thank you so much again for this magical upload. Merry Yule up there in the Northern Hemisphere of beloved Mother Earth😇🙏

[@IISocratesII]

I wonder if Caedmon's hymn if what gave J.R.R Tolkien the idea of middle earth in LOTR, surely this is the earliest reference to such a thing? he used endless anglo-saxon and celtic historical sources in his writings.

[@monkeywritingshakespeare9744]

Glad to see you posting, Big PP! You're the best there is. No joke. No doubt. No lie. PS I really loved the intro! Your insight into the historical aspect of music is unparalleled.

[@lionguardant5468]

I thought I recognised the interior and then checked the description - I live a stones throw from the chapel!

[@Divix19]

Verily, verily, I say to you, This guy is amazing

[@Zephro97]

Amazing

[@OneMeanArtist]

Absolutely love your version! I wish I could get it on Spotify. In the meantime, subbed! :D

[@mr.delphi.der.cargokultkon654]

- ure unstoppable - regards from MeckPomm/northeast Germany - -

[@junemacauley7239]

@Peter Pringle - That is so beautiful. Thank you for all the work you've put in so that we may be graced with that.

[@j.b.4340]

A most enjoyable song, and performance. Thank you very much.

[@marksmith1074]

This guy has an amazing voice!!

[@brebenelandrei]

Absolutely beautiful