Beowulf sung with Anglo Saxon Harp /Lyre (first 12 lines Old English and translation)

I've set the first 12 lines of Beowulf to music (first in Old English then in modern translation - turn captions on). For the melody I've adapted the song 'Kvæðið Um Hargabrøður' by the Faroese band Hamradun. Excuse the scratchy singing, it was first thing in the morning after a night in a smoky hall!

This is one of the oldest English poems, written down around 800-900 AD but later parts mention events that took place around 500 AD so was clearly in the oral folk tradition for longer and harks back to pre-Viking Scandinavian influences in England. No melody survives but we know Anglo Saxons liked singing poetry and accompanying on the 'hearpe'. It's just a quick recording on my mobile phone the morning after our Yule feast, before the public arrived (at West Stow Anglo Saxon Village in Suffolk, England).

I'm only a beginner at Old English so apologies for pronunciation/translation errors. I've followed Prof Tom Shippey on a couple of disputed meanings but any errors of course remain my own. I'm always grateful for any pronunciation errors to be corrected!

[RichWoods]

Beautifully done!

I'm sure I remember from school (many decades ago) that the first word was a common proclamation, designed to grab the attention of the feasting company so that they'd quieten down and pay attention to the skald. "Hwaet!" Handy in the days of the travelling poet, before portable amps...

[brianhunt]

You've excelled yourself there Dark Bardess, I've heard all of your music and this is standout. I'll hear this again next time I'm at Sutton Hoo.

[grahamturner]

Wonderful, wish I had been there! A friend of mine had a go at the same thing.

[Wolfiiee]

Beautiful! How often do these things occur at West Stow? :)