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
PEARL
Mediæval Bæbes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of wode and water and wlonk plaines
Bilde in me bliss, abated my bales
Forbidden my stress, destroyed my paines
Down after a strem that drightly hales
I bowed in bliss, bredful my branes
The firre I folwed those floty vales
The more strength of joye myn herte straines
Whether solace ho sende other elles sore
The wye to wham hir wille ho waines
Hittes to have ay more and more
More of wele was in that wise
Than I couth telle thagh I tom hade
For erthly herte might not suffise
To the tenthe dole of tho gladness glade
For thy I thoght that paradise
Was there other gain tho bonkes brade
I hoped the water were a devise
Between mirthes by meres made
Beyonde the brook, by slent other slade
I hoped that mote inerked wore
Bot the water was depe, I dorst not wade
And ever me longed ay more and more
More and more and yet well mare
Me liste to see the brook beyonde
For if hit was fair there I can fare
Well loveloker was the firre londe
Aboute me con I stote and stare
To finde a forth faste con I fonde
Bot wothes mo ywis there ware
The firre I stalled by the stronde
And ever me thoght I shokle not wonde
For wo there weles so winne wore
Thenne newe note me com on honed
That meved my minde more and more
The song "Pearl" by the Mediæval Bæbes is a beautiful, dreamy, and melancholic song that takes the listener on a journey through nature, longing, and desire for something that is just out of reach. The lyrics evoke a sense of peace and tranquility, but also of sadness and yearning. The singer describes her journey through meadows, woods, and streams, where she finds temporary relief from stress and pain. She describes a place that is so beautiful and serene that she believes it might be paradise, and she longs to cross the water and reach it. However, as she stands by the stream, she realizes that it is too deep to cross, and she is left with an endless longing for something that she cannot have.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of this song is the way it captures the complex emotions that arise from our desire for something that we cannot have. The lyrics are full of contradictions - a sense of joy and peace mixed with a deep longing and sadness. In one moment, the singer expresses her joy at finding relief from her pain in nature, but in the next, she is overwhelmed by the realization that she cannot reach the paradise that she has glimpsed. The song captures the bittersweet beauty of such moments, where we are torn between the joy of what we have and the pain of what we cannot have.
Overall, "Pearl" is a haunting and evocative song that captures the natural beauty of the world while also exploring the complex emotions that arise from desire and loss. The lyrics are filled with vivid images and powerful feelings, making it a song that is sure to resonate with listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
The dubberment dere of down and dales
The dear beauty of hills and valleys
Of wode and water and wlonk plaines
Of forests and water and green plains
Bilde in me bliss, abated my bales
Filled me with joy and ended my suffering
Forbidden my stress, destroyed my paines
Relieved me of anxiety and destroyed my sorrows
Down after a strem that drightly hales
Following a current that flows brightly
I bowed in bliss, bredful my branes
I felt content, my mind brimming with ideas
The firre I folwed those floty vales
The further I followed those flowing valleys
The more strength of joye myn herte straines
The stronger the joy in my heart becomes
As fortune fares theras ho fraines
As fate decides for those who seek solace
Whether solace ho sende other elles sore
Whether solace or sorrow, fate decides
The wye to wham hir wille ho waines
The path fate chooses to follow
Hittes to have ay more and more
Driven to seek and have more and more
More of wele was in that wise
More happiness was found in that way
Than I couth telle thagh I tom hade
More than I could express, even if I had time
For erthly herte might not suffise
For a human heart is not enough
To the tenthe dole of tho gladness glade
To even a fraction of that great joy
For thy I thoght that paradise
Therefore, I thought that paradise
Was there other gain tho bonkes brade
One could gain paradise on those wide banks
I hoped the water were a devise
I hoped the water was a trick
Between mirthes by meres made
Between mirthful places by the lakeside
Beyonde the brook, by slent other slade
Beyond the brook, through hidden paths
I hoped that mote inerked wore
I hoped the moat was hidden
Bot the water was depe, I dorst not wade
But the water was deep, and I dared not cross
And ever me longed ay more and more
And yet, the desire for more grew stronger
More and more and yet well mare
More and more, and yet even more
Me liste to see the brook beyonde
I wanted to see the brook beyond
For if hit was fair there I can fare
Because if it was beautiful there, I could go there
Well loveloker was the firre londe
The land beyond was even more beautiful
Aboute me con I stote and stare
I walked around and gazed around me
To finde a forth faste con I fonde
I searched for a quick way to get there
Bot wothes mo ywis there ware
But many obstacles and difficulties were there
The firre I stalled by the stronde
I stopped by the shore
And ever me thoght I shokle not wonde
And I thought I could not be surprised
For wo there weles so winne wore
Because there was so much pain and struggle
Thenne newe note me com on honed
Then, a new idea came to my mind
That meved my minde more and more
That made my desire even stronger
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: KATHARINE BLAKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind