Riddles still survive from ancient Greece and Persia and were known as kennings by the Anglo Saxons. Riddles were both entertaining and educative. The mental guess work and the surprise at the answer were considered to leave an impression of knowledge. 

The Exeter Book of Riddles, is part of an eleventh century manuscript bequeathed to the cathedral library by the first Bishop of Exeter, Leofric, who died in 1072. This bequest contained a great variety of poetry some on Christian themes some pagan. The Exeter riddles are beautiful naming riddles. For example the sea is described as the 'swan's riding-place' or 'the whale's path'. 

I proposed a song cycle setting of a selection of Riddles to the BBC and was duly commissioned by radio 3.

Riddles suggest an interaction between the listener and the teller. They are also complete pieces in themselves and need to occupy their own space. For this reason each riddle is separated by two short sections, the first a challenge "guess my name" followed by a few seconds of silence for the listener to think of an answer, the second the whispered answer.

Performed by Lore Lixenberg, Liz Cowdrey and Tom Hollander


Riddles 2

Jeremy Arden