Cædmon's Hymn*
for Mixed Chorus (S.A.T.B) and organ - Length: ca. 9'00"
Available through Subito Music - Please visit SMD to order.
Cædmon’s Hymn is the oldest English of known authorship. It was written in the seventh century by the poet Cædmon, supposedly from divine inspiration. The tranlsation is by Burton Raffel My setting of the text, for chorus and organ, begins with four members of the chorus speaking the opening line of the poem in Old English, the intention being to evoke the atmosphere of the time and place of the hymn’s creation. The work was commissioned by and is dedicated to the South Bend (Indiana) Chamber Singers, Nancy Menk, Music Director, and organist David Eicher.
Now sing the glory of God, the King of
Heaven, our Father's power and His perfect
Labor, the world's conception, worked
In miracles as eternity's Lord made
The beginning. First the heavens were formed as a roof
For men, and then the holy Creator,
Eternal Lord and protector of souls,
Shaped our earth, prepared our home,
The almighty Master, our Prince, our God.
Click below for a pdf of the opening pages of the score:
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The World Premiere of “Cædmon's Hymn” by South Bend Chamber Singers conducted by Nancy Menk.
