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
Blow Northern Wind
Mediæval Bæbes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Send thou me my sweting
Blow, northerne wind
Blow, blow, blow!
Ichot a burde in bowre bright
That sully semly is on sight
Menskful maiden of might
In all this wurhliche won
A burde of blod and of bon
Never yet I nuste non
Lussomore in lode
Blow, northerne wind
Send thou me my sweting
Blow, northerne wind
Blow, blow, blow!
Hire lure lumes light
Ase a launterne anight
Hire be blikieth so bright
So fair he is and fine
Swetly swire he hath to holde
With armes, shuldre ase mon wolde
And fingres faire for to folde
God wolde she were mine
Blow, northerne wind
Send thou me my sweting
Blow, northerne wind
Blow, blow, blow!
To Love I putte pleintes mo
How Siking me hath siwed so
And eke Thoght me thrat to slo
With maistry yef he mighte
And Sorewe sore in balful bende
The he wolde for this hende
Me lede to my lives ende
Unlahfulliche in lighte
Blow, northerne wind
Send thou me my sweting
Blow, northerne wind
Blow, blow, blow!
The song "Blow Northern Wind" by Mediæval Bæbes is a beautiful and mystical ballad that speaks of a man who is lost in love and longing for his beloved. He calls out to the northern wind, asking it to send his sweet one to him. The song starts with the man describing his dear, with whom he is absolutely smitten. He describes her as a "menskful maiden of might," which means a gracious and powerful girl. He describes her beauty, which is almost blinding, with her eyes shining like a lantern in the night. The man speaks of how he wishes to hold her with his arms, and how he longs to have her as his own.
The second verse reveals that the man is struggling with his love for this woman. He speaks of putting several complaints against love, and he speaks of Thoght and Siking. Thoght is an old English word that means "thought," while Siking means "longing" or "desire." The man speaks of how love and longing have been tormenting him, and how he wishes to be with his beloved. He also speaks of Sorewe, which means "sorrow," and how it binds him to his fate. The man knows that this love is not lawful, but he cannot help how he feels.
Overall, the lyrics of "Blow Northern Wind" by Mediæval Bæbes are about love and longing, with the northern wind acting as a symbol of the man's desire to be reunited with his beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
Blow, northerne wind
Invoke, Northern wind
Send thou me my sweting
Bring my sweetness to me
Blow, blow, blow!
Keep blowing until my love comes to me
Ichot a burde in bowre bright
I saw a maiden in a bright bower
That sully semly is on sight
She was very beautiful
Menskful maiden of might
A gracious and powerful maiden
Fair and fre to fonde
Pleasant and open to courtship
In all this wurhliche won
Within this worldly realm
A burde of blod and of bon
A woman of flesh and bone
Never yet I nuste non
I have never known anyone like her
Lussomore in lode
My desire for her is growing stronger
Hire lure lumes light
Her eyes shine like a lantern at night
Ase a launterne anight
Bright and clear like a lantern at night
Hire be blikieth so bright
She's so bright and beautiful to behold
So fair he is and fine
So lovely and delicate in appearance
Swetly swire he hath to holde
She sweetly sways in his arms
With armes, shuldre ase mon wolde
Her arms and shoulders are formed perfectly
And fingres faire for to folde
Her fingers are beautiful to fold with mine
God wolde she were mine
I wish she was mine
To Love I putte pleintes mo
I make more complaints to love
How Siking me hath siwed so
How love torments me
And eke Thoght me thrat to slo
And my thoughts threaten to kill me
With maistry yef he mighte
If it had the power to do so
And Sorewe sore in balful bende
Being in a state of immense pain and suffering
The he wolde for this hende
That it would lead me to death
Me lede to my lives ende
To lead me to my life's end
Unlahfulliche in lighte
In an unlawful way in the world
Contributed by Tyler M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.