The Mediæval Bæbes is an English ensemble of female musicians founded by Mi… Read Full Bio ↴The Mediæval Bæbes is an English ensemble of female musicians founded by Miranda Sex Garden member Katharine Blake in London in 1996, featuring some of her MSG cohorts as well as other friends who share her love of medieval music. The lineup often rotates from album to album, and ranges from 6to 12 members.

The Bæbes's first album, Salva Nos (1997), shot straight to No 2 in the classical charts, a silver disc. Subsequent albums include Worldes Blysse (which went straight to No 1), Undrentide, (co-produced by John Cale), The Rose, and the Christmas-themed album Mistletoe & Wine.

Mirabilis (2005), was launched at a concert and party in London, August 2005. A self-titled DVD was released in July 2006. The first 300 preorders were autographed by the band and received a special mention in the DVD credits.

A live album was be released in December 2006 and featured two bonus studio tracks, An Itunes exclusive was also launched which added tracks not featured on the cd release and at this time still remain exclusive so is well worth tracking down.

The new album entitled Illumination was released via preorder on the bands website in Oct 2008 and as an added incentive to fans features two bonus tracks not included on the regular wholesale edition which has a Spring 2009 official release date. There has been concerns over the mastering of the album from fans which could account for the delayed release dates.

Each album features traditional medieval songs and poetry set to music, mostly arranged by Blake specifically for the ensemble, alongside varying numbers of original compositions. They sing in a variety of languages, including Latin, Middle English, French, Italian, Russian, Middle High German, Welsh, Irish Gaelic, modern English, Swedish and the nearly extinct Cornish. Their vocals are backed by medieval instruments, including the recorder and cittern, played by the singers or fellow musicians.

One of the group's founding musicians, Dorothy Carter, died of a stroke in 2003 at the age of 68. In addition to playing autoharp, hurdy gurdy, and dulcimer with the group, she performed the lead vocals on So Spricht Das Leben (Worldes Blysse) and L'Amour de Moi (The Rose).

Emily Ovenden, who sings with the group, is the daughter of artist Graham Ovenden.

The Bæbes' musical pieces run the gamut from extremely traditional, such as their version of The Coventry Carol on Salva Nos, to songs that feel traditional but are much more modern, such as their rendition of Summerisle, a song written for Robin Hardy's 1973 cult film Wicker Man. John Cale added non-medieval instruments, including saxophone and electric guitar, to some of the arrangements on Undrentide, although with subsequent albums the band returned to more traditional instruments. Even with these instruments, however, the band's current style is quite different from medieval authentic performance groups, as it displays significant modern influence.

Current Band Members:
Katharine Blake (Contralto, Recorders, Violin, Piano), Emily Ovenden (Soprano, Recorders, Concertina, Percussion), Ester Dee (Soprano), Claire Rabbitt (Contralto, Piano), Bev Lee Harling (Alto, Violin, Citern, Recorders, Guitar), Melpomeni Kermanidou (Mezzo Soprano, Piano)

former Band Members:
Dorothy Carter, Karen Lupton, Nicole Frobusch, Nichole Sleet, Carmen Schneider, Claire Ravel, Ruth Galloway, Teresa Casella, Rachel Van Ash, Audrey Evans, Marie Findley, Cylindra Sapphire, Sophie Evans, Maple Bee, Sofia Escobar, Maxine Fone

Official website: www.mediaevalbaebes.com

Ah Si Mon Moine
Mediæval Bæbes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ah si mon moine voulait danser
Ah si mon moine voulait danser
Un capuchon je lui donnerai
Un capuchon je lui donnerai

Danse, mon moine danse
Tu n'entends pas le danse
Tu n'entends pas moulin-lon-la

Tu n'entends pas mon moulin marcher

Ah si mon moine voulait danser
Ah si mon moine voulait danser
Un chapelet je lui donnerai
Un chapelet je lui donnerai

Danse, mon moine danse
Tu n'entends pas le danse
Tu n'entends pas moulin-lon-la
Tu n'entends pas mon moulin marcher

Ah si mon moine voulait danser
Ah si mon moine voulait danser
Un ceinturon je lui donnerai
Un ceinturon je lui donnerai

Danse, mon moine danse
Tu n'entends pas le danse
Tu n'entends pas moulin-lon-la
Tu n'entends pas mon moulin marcher

Ah si mon moine voulait danser
Ah si mon moine voulait danser
Un beau psautier je lui donnerai
Un beau psautier je lui donnerai

Danse, mon moine danse
Tu n'entends pas le danse
Tu n'entends pas moulin-lon-la
Tu n'entends pas mon moulin marcher

Si'l n'avait fait voeu de pauvrete
Si'l n'avait fait voeu de pauvrete
Bien d'autres chos' je lui donnerais
Bien d'autres chos' je lui donnerais

Danse, mon moine danse
Tu n'entends pas le danse
Tu n'entends pas moulin-lon-la
Tu n'entends pas mon moulin marcher

Tu n'entends pas moulin-lon-la
Tu n'entends pas mon moulin marcher

Overall Meaning

The song "Ah Si Mon Moine" is a traditional French song that has been covered by various artists, including Mediæval Bæbes. The song's title translates to "Oh If My Monk Wanted to Dance," and the lyrics depict a woman imagining what gifts she would bestow upon her monk if he were to dance with her. The woman promises to give the monk a hood, a bead necklace, a belt, and a beautiful prayer book, but laments that she cannot give him more because of his vow of poverty.

The lyrics are playful and flirtatious, with the woman using the promise of gifts to entice her monk to join her in dance. The repetition of the phrase "danse mon moine danse" (dance, my monk, dance) adds to the playful nature of the song, as does the use of onomatopoeia in the line "tu n'entends pas moulin-lon-la" (you don't hear the millstone turning). Overall, the song is a light-hearted look at forbidden love and the power of temptation.

Line by Line Meaning

Ah si mon moine voulait danser
If my monk wanted to dance

Un capuchon je lui donnerai
I would give him a hood

Danse, mon moine danse
Dance, my monk, dance

Tu n'entends pas le danse
You don't hear the dance

Tu n'entends pas moulin-lon-la
You don't hear the mill grinding

Tu n'entends pas mon moulin marcher
You don't hear my mill working

Un chapelet je lui donnerai
I would give him a rosary

Un ceinturon je lui donnerai
I would give him a belt

Un beau psautier je lui donnerai
I would give him a beautiful psalm-book

Si'l n'avait fait voeu de pauvrete
If he hadn't taken a vow of poverty

Bien d'autres chos' je lui donnerais
I would give him many other things