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
Dies Irae
Mediæval Bæbes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
solvet sæclum in favilla,
teste David cum Sibylla!
Quantus tremor est futurus,
quando judex est venturus
cuncta stricte discussurus!
per sepulchra regionum
coget omnes ante thronum
Mors stupebit et natura,
cum resurget creatura
judicanti responsura.
Liber scriptus proferetur,
in quo totum continetur
unde mundus judicetur.
Iudex ergo cum sedebit,
quidquid latet, apparebit;
nil inultum remanebit.
Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?
Quem patronum rogaturus,
cum vix justus sit securus?
Rex tremendæ majestatis,
qui salvandos salvas gratis,
salva me, fons pietatis.
Recordare, Iesu pie,
quod sum causa tuæ viae,
ne me perdas illa die.
Quaerens me, sedisti lassus,
redemisti Crucem passus;
tantus labor non sit cassus.
The song "Dies Irae" by Mediæval Bæbes is a hauntingly beautiful and solemn piece that contemplates the end of the world and the day of judgment. The Latin lyrics paint a vivid picture of the Last Judgment, with the singer expressing fear and trembling at the prospect of facing judgment for their sins. The first stanza sets the tone with the declaration, "Dies iræ! dies illa / solvet sæclum in favilla," which translates to "Day of wrath! That day / will dissolve the world in ashes." The second stanza asks, "Quantus tremor est futurus / quando judex est venturus / cuncta stricte discussurus," meaning "What trembling there will be / when the judge shall come / to examine everything strictly." The imagery of the trumpet sounding and the dead rising from their graves adds to the sense of awe and dread.
The third stanza speaks to the inevitability of judgment, with the lines "Liber scriptus proferetur, / in quo totum continetur / unde mundus judicetur" translating to "The written book will be brought forth, / which contains everything / by which the world shall be judged." The fourth stanza speaks to the idea that no sin will go unpunished, with "Iudex ergo cum sedebit, / quidquid latet, apparebit; / nil inultum remanebit" meaning "When the judge shall sit, / whatever is hidden will appear; / nothing shall remain unpunished." The fifth stanza expresses the singer's despair at the thought of facing judgment alone, with "Quid sum miser tunc dicturus? / Quem patronum rogaturus, / cum vix justus sit securus?" translating to "What shall I say, a wretch that I am, / who shall I ask to plead for me / when the just ones are barely secure?" The final stanza includes a plea for mercy from Jesus and a recognition of his sacrifice on the cross.
Overall, the song captures the weight and gravity of the concept of the Last Judgment, expressing both the fear and the hope of the singer. The use of Latin and medieval instrumentation contribute to the feeling of the song being both ancient and timeless.
Line by Line Meaning
Dies iræ! dies illa
Oh, what a fateful day! The day of wrath, that day
solvet sæclum in favilla
When the world will dissolve in ashes
teste David cum Sibylla!
As David and the Sibyl both prophesied
Quantus tremor est futurus,
What trembling there will be
quando judex est venturus
When the judge comes
cuncta stricte discussurus!
To strictly judge everything
Tuba mirum spargens sonum
The trumpet spreading a wondrous sound
per sepulchra regionum
Through the regions of the dead
coget omnes ante thronum
Will gather all before the throne
Mors stupebit et natura,
Death and nature will be amazed
cum resurget creatura
When the creature rises again
judicanti responsura.
To answer to the Judge
Liber scriptus proferetur,
The written book will be brought forth
in quo totum continetur
In which everything is contained
unde mundus judicetur.
From which the world will be judged
Iudex ergo cum sedebit,
Therefore when the Judge will sit
quidquid latet, apparebit;
Whatever is hidden will be revealed
nil inultum remanebit.
Nothing will remain unpunished
Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?
What will wretched I then say?
Quem patronum rogaturus,
Which protector shall I entreat?
cum vix justus sit securus?
When even the righteous shall hardly be secure?
Rex tremendæ majestatis,
Oh, King of Tremendous Majesty
qui salvandos salvas gratis,
Who freely saves those worthy of salvation
salva me, fons pietatis.
Save me, O fountain of mercy
Recordare, Iesu pie,
Remember, merciful Jesus
quod sum causa tuæ viae,
That I am the reason for your journey
ne me perdas illa die.
Do not lose me on that day
Quaerens me, sedisti lassus,
In seeking me, you sat tired
redemisti Crucem passus;
You redeemed me having suffered the cross
tantus labor non sit cassus.
May so great a labor not be in vain.
Contributed by Cooper W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.