Caedmon's Hymn


Read by Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023)

(4.1 stars; 37 reviews)

Cædmon was an Anglo-Saxon herdsman attached to the double monastery of Streonæshalch (657–681). Originally ignorant of the art of song, Cædmon learned to compose one night in the course of a dream. Cædmon’s only known surviving work is Cædmon’s Hymn, the nine-line alliterative vernacular praise poem in honour of the Christian god he supposedly learned to sing in his initial dream. The poem is one of the earliest attested examples of Old English and is one of three candidates for the earliest attested example of Old English poetry. It is also one of the earliest recorded examples of sustained poetry in a Germanic language. (Summary from Wikipedia) (0 hr 1 min)

Chapters

Caedmon's Hymn 1:39 Read by Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023)

Reviews

MADE MY DAY


(5 stars)

Quite by accident I found this little piece, clicked 'play', and was treated to a reading of the first poem in English, read in old English. Thanks for that start to my day, Ms. S! You also have a beautiful voice. I'm new to LibriVOX, and giddy with happiness to have found such a treasure! so much so I'm finding it hard to describe, but my feelings are along the line of having found my home planet, my people!

Simplicity at its best.


(5 stars)

Even though my forté is Ancient History, this reading sounded wonderful. You've done many readings Miss Shallenburg but being able to speak Gaelic like this adds another notch to your belt. I'm not the 1st fan of yours & won't be the last but it's an honor to be part of your ever-growing sea of admirers.


(4 stars)

Very short, naturally, but it sounds like the reader did a good job with the Old English. I'm no expert, but I do know roughly what it's supposed to sound like. This is a great resource to be available, and I appreciate the directions to the particular text used.


(5 stars)

I love languages. Old English in really cool! The reader is good too, she read Anne of Green Gables. She also does a great accent. Thank you!


(5 stars)

A reading of the poem which brings out the music of the original. Very good.

It is beautiful to hear this language.


(5 stars)