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
E volentieri
Mediæval Bæbes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Translation
Io mi son giovinetta e volentieri
I am a young maiden, and I willingly
M'allegro e canto en la stagion novella,
Rejoice and sing in the new season,
Merz d'amore e de'dolci pensieri.
Thanks to love and to my sweet thoughts.
I wander through green meadows gazing
I bianchi fiori e gialli e i vermigli,
At the white and yellow and vermilion flowers,
Le rose in su le spine e i bianchi gigli,
At the roses above their thorns and the white lilies,
E tutti quanti gli vo somiglando
And all of them I liken
Al viso di colui che me, amando,
To the face of him who, loving me,
Ha presa e terr sempre, come quella
Took me and forever will keep me as the one
Ch'altro non ha in disio ch'e suoi piaceri.
Who desires nothing but his pleasures.
The Mediæval Bæbes song "E volentieri" is an enchanting piece with original lyrics from the 14th century Italian language. The song expresses the beauty and magic of falling in love with someone who cherishes and adores you. The singer is a young maiden who is carefree and joyous, delighting in the newness of the season and the sweet thoughts that love brings to her mind. She wanders through the green meadows, gazing at the colorful flowers blooming around her, and she likens all of them to the face of the man who lovingly took her and will keep her as the one he desires most.
The poem is brimming with imagery that conjures the beauty of the natural world and the passion of love. The opening line, "Io mi son giovinetta e volentieri," is an effective opening that declares the singer's youthfulness and willingness to embrace all that life has to offer. The personification of the season as "la stagion novella" creates a sense of freshness and renewal, and the use of the verb "rejoice" emphasizes the singer's delight in life. The use of the past tense in the line "Thanks to love and to my sweet thoughts" suggests that the young maiden has already experienced the transformative power of love and that it has left an indelible mark on her.
The use of natural imagery throughout the poem is striking, and the flowers are particularly significant in their symbolism. The white and yellow and vermilion flowers represent the various stages of love - the white flowers symbolize the purity and innocence of a new love, the yellow flowers represent the warmth and intimacy of a longstanding love, and the vermilion flowers symbolize the fiery passion and intensity of a love that has overcome obstacles. The roses and the white lilies also have symbolic significance - the roses with their thorns represent the pain and struggle of love, while the white lilies evoke purity and innocence. Overall, "E volentieri" is a captivating ode to love, nature, and the beauty of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Io mi son giovinetta e volentieri
As a young maiden, I eagerly and willingly embrace life
M'allegro e canto en la stagion novella,
I am joyous and sing in the new season
Merz d'amore e de'dolci pensieri.
Thanks to love and sweet thoughts
Io ve pe'verdi prati riguardando
I wander through green meadows gazing
I bianchi fiori e gialli e i vermigli,
At the white and yellow and vermilion flowers,
Le rose in su le spine e i bianchi gigli,
At the roses above their thorns and the white lilies,
E tutti quanti gli vo somiglando
And all of them I liken
Al viso di colui che me, amando,
To the face of him who, loving me,
Ha presa e terr sempre, come quella
Who has taken me and will always keep me as the one
Ch'altro non ha in disio ch'e suoi piaceri.
For he desires nothing but his own pleasures.
Contributed by Benjamin K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.