Rediscovering Lost Old English Music and Verse:
The Anglo-Saxon Lyres from Sutton Hoo, Snape & Prittlewell.

with Dr Graeme Lawson

in The Old Court , Sutton Hoo (map)
on Saturday, May 21st 2011

This is a rare opportunity to meet with one of the world’s specialists in ancient musical instruments and in the Anglo-Saxon lyre in particular. Based on the finds from Sutton Hoo, Snape, and Prittlewell the day will include a hands-on exploration of the Anglo-Saxon hearpe or lyre, using replica instruments. We will explore its use in relation to Old English poetry such as Beowulf and Widsith, consider the lyre’s musical character and its place in world music history.

Dr Graeme Lawson is an archaeologist and composer who has made his life's work the exploration of music's pre- and proto-history. One of his passions is Anglo-Saxon music and he is one of Europe's most expert lyre-players. Dr Lawson is a Fellow of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Cambridge University.

Alexander, M., The First Poems in English (Penguin Classics 2008)
Alexander, M., Old English Riddles from the Exeter Book. Verse translations. (Anvil Press, London 1980, 1982, 1984, 2007)
Bruce-Mitford, R., Aspects of Anglo-Saxon Archaeology (Gollancz 1974)
Filmer-Sankey, W., & T.Pestell, Snape Anglo-Saxon Cemetery: Excavations and Surveys 1824-1992, EAA Report 95 (Ipswich 2001).
Heaney, S, (tr.) Beowulf: An Illustrated Edition, ed. J.Niles (Norton 2007)
Lawson, G., & S.Rankin, 'Music', 'Chant', & 'Musical Instruments', The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Anglo-Saxon England , ed. M.Lapidge (Oxford 2000)
McClure, J. & R.Collins, (ed. & tr.), Bede: the Ecclesiastical History of the English People (Oxford 1999).
Pollington, S., The Mead-Hall. The feasting tradition in Anglo-Saxon England (Anglo-Saxon Books 2003)
Webster, L., and J.Backhouse, The Making of England: Anglo-Saxon Art and Culture AD 600-900 (British Museum 1991)
Wilson, R., The Lost Literature of Medieval England (Methuen 1952, 1970)

Bookings

Please phone or email to check the availability of places.  Study Days are £38 per person, which includes a full day of lectures, access to the NT site, parking, coffee and tea throughout the day, and access to the NT exhibition.  Once you have reserved your place please send a cheque to confirm the booking. For your first booking please complete the application form to ensure that we have recorded your contact details correctly.

Wuffing Education,
4 Hilly Fields,
Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 4DX
(tel : 01394 386498)

Email cliff AT wuffingeducation.co.uk
(replace 'AT' by '@' in order to send email - we used 'AT' to avoid spam robots automatically sending us emails)
Website www.wuffingeducation.co.uk

Return to list of current Study Days

Website by
Adroit Solutions Ltd