Last Chance Tonight--Beowulf: Benjamin Bagby at Lincoln Center Festival

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 7/15/06 at 11:28am

Benjamin Bagby's Beowulf is another DO NOT MISS at Lincoln Center Festival.

This is the real deal, the olde English tale in verse and song by the world famous Benjamin Bagby.

I've literally been waiting years to see this. He is supposed to bring the ancient tale, Britain's Iliad as it were, to life in the theatre to make it accessible so you can understand it even in the olden tongue!

Grendel was from the monster's point of view, this is the Beowulf story in contrast.
Beowulf performances Updated On: 7/22/06 at 11:28 AM

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 11:31pm

Who's going to Beowulf?

Modern English translation of Beowulf Updated On: 7/17/06 at 11:31 PM

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 11:53pm

And what is that instrument he is carrying?

Is it what the Irish call a "wild harp" or is it a lyre or what?
Benjamin Bagby's Beowulf with photo

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 11:57pm

It says anglo-saxon harp at the top...

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 12:01am

It says six-stringed harp further in the text as the instrument used by a bard to recount this tale.

There's got to be a better name for this instrument. I am sure it has its own traditional name.
Harps Updated On: 7/17/06 at 12:01 AM

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 12:05am

This old Greek lyre has seven strings.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 12:09am

Check this out. A Viking lyre. Looks like a possible origin but seven strings again...


The Lyre (number of strings varied) Updated On: 7/17/06 at 12:09 AM

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 12:29am

Six-stringed harp has the same number of strings as a guitar, but those weren't used in England until much later in the 1500's.

Check out the six-stringed replica of the Sutton Hoo lyre in the British museum at this website (which also speaks of the Norse tale of Beowulf). It has a wand with it like you would use to play a violin:



Regia Anglorum - Music and Verse in Anglo-Saxon and Viking Times Updated On: 7/17/06 at 12:29 AM

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 5:43pm

A fairly lightweight and not very well-informed review from the NY Times...
NY Times Beowulf Review

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 3:25pm

Benjamin Bagby is a very good singer and actor and gave a wonderful rendition of Beowulf.

Modern English translations are well-presented on a screen behind him.

The combinations of melodies was unusual. This piece requires an interest in the subject matter and a long attention span and is not for children.

The sound of the Old English was Germanic, and I found it interesting to see what English words are of Germanic origin, like "night," which made me think of the pronounciation of the word in Scottish brogue, more like "nihct."