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
Golden Bells
Mediæval Bæbes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
golden bells
what a world of happiness their harmony foretells
through the balmy air of night
how they ring out their delight
from the molten golden notes
and all in tune
what a liquid ditty floats
on the moon
oh from out the sounding cells
what a gush of euphony voluminously wells
how it swells
how it dwells
on the future how it tells
of the rapture that impels
to the swinging and the ringing
of the bells bells bells
of the bells bells bells bells
bells bells bells
to the rhyming and the chiming of the bells
The song "Golden Bells" by the Mediæval Bæbes features lyrics that describe the beauty and joy that come with the sound of wedding bells. The verse mentions the delightful harmony that the bells create, and how their sound fills the air with happiness on a balmy night. The singer describes how the sound of the bells takes on a liquid quality that floats through the air to the attentive ears of birds and other creatures. The chorus repeats the phrase "bells bells bells" over and over, creating a rhythmic sensation that builds in intensity as the song progresses.
The lyrics create a sense of excitement and anticipation, as the bells are said to foretell the future and the joyful rapture that it will bring. The sound of the bells is not just a beautiful melody, but a message of hope and promise that inspires both swinging and ringing in harmony.
Overall, "Golden Bells" is a song that celebrates the transformative power of love and the joy that comes with marriage. The lyrics are evocative and mystical, drawing the listener into a world of beauty and wonder.
Line by Line Meaning
hear the mellow wedding bells
Listen to the gentle-voiced wedding bells
golden bells
Bells that shine like gold
what a world of happiness their harmony foretells
Their joyful sounds predict a world of happiness
through the balmy air of night
The bells' sounds drift through the pleasant night air
how they ring out their delight
The bells ring out their happiness
from the molten golden notes
From the pure, liquid gold-like sounds of the bells
and all in tune
All of the bells are perfectly in harmony
what a liquid ditty floats
A pleasant melody drifts through the air
to the turtledove that listens while she gloats
Even the listening turtledove is pleased by the sound
on the moon
Perhaps even the moon itself can hear the bells
oh from out the sounding cells
The sound comes from the deep heart of the bells
what a gush of euphony voluminously wells
The bells have a powerful, uplifting sound
how it swells
The sound grows louder and more majestic
how it dwells
The sound lingers pleasantly in the air
on the future how it tells
The bells' sound even predicts a bright future
of the rapture that impels
The sound of the bells is so delightful it inspires rapture
to the swinging and the ringing
To the movement and sound of the bells
of the bells bells bells
Of the joyous ringing of the bells
of the bells bells bells bells
Reinforcing the joyful sounds of the ringing bells
bells bells bells
More and more ringing bells
to the rhyming and the chiming of the bells
To the pleasant rhyming and chiming of the bells
Contributed by Alexander M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.