Beowulf

Chronicling (among other events) the famed battle between the titular hero and the monster Grendel, the epic Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf (likely composed in the 8th century, and regarded as the first great work of English literature) is ordinarily read in modern English translations. On this DVD, however, Benjamin Bagby, the director of Sequentia (an ensemble devoted to the performance of medieval music), sings the first 1,062 lines in the original Old English, accompanying himself on a harp fashioned after the remains of an authentic 7th-century instrument. Since no music—or even musical notation—survives from this early period, Bagby's presentation necessarily involves a fair amount of speculation, but it's historically informed speculation, and the result comes as close as one can hope to what listeners would have experienced during the period when the text was presented by bardic storytellers. Bagby beautifully inflects his strong baritone, “acting out” the text through facial gestures that raise this offering far beyond the level of mere scholarly recitation (the optional modern English subtitles allow the viewer to savor Bagby's well-honed delivery and still understand what he's saying). Boasting excellent camerawork, this 2006 live performance in Helsingborg, Sweden also features periodic shots of enraptured listeners and background landscapes to add visual variety. DVD extras include a featurette in which Bagby explains his method of preparation and a discussion about recreating the poem. Performance art of the highest order, this is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek)