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
Palästinalied
Mediæval Bæbes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sît mîn sündic ouge siht
Daz reine lant und ouch die erde
Der man sô vil êren giht
Mirst geschehen des ich ie bat
Ich bin komen an die stat
Da got mennischlichen trat
Schæniu lant rîch unde hêre
Sô bist duz ir aller êre
Waz ist wunders hie geschehen!
Daz ein magt ein kint gebar
Here ubr aller engel schar
Waz daz niht ein wunder gar?
Daz in dô des niht verdrôz
Dast ein wunder alze grôz
Aller wunder übergnôz
The Mediæval Bæbes' "Palästinalied" introduces us to an ode to the Holy Land, conveying the awe and majesty of Jerusalem. The singer opens with the proclamation that they are living now, satisfied for the first time because their sinful eyes have seen the holy and pure land where so many have celebrated it. As they continue their journey, they have been blessed with arriving in the same city where God once walked among humans, observing the grandeur of the beautiful and powerful land. The singer never saw anything as beautiful as what lay before them in this holy land, earning the honor of being a beloved land.
As the singer reflects on the place where they stand will also be the same land where a divine miracle manifested as the Virgin Mary gave birth to baby Jesus, surpassing all other miracles that have come before. The singer is in awe of the magnificent occurrence that was witnessed, and their eyes cannot believe such a wonder came forth before them.
The song explicitly describes visiting the Holy Land and centers around the Virgin Mary giving birth in the city where God walked among humanity. The song's themes revolve around religious devotion and awe of the divine, particularly in the Holy Land.
Line by Line Meaning
Aller êrst lebe ich mir werde
First and foremost, I live for myself and strive for personal growth
Sît mîn sündic ouge siht
Ever since my sinful eyes have witnessed
Daz reine lant und ouch die erde
The pure land and also the earth
Der man sô vil êren giht
That is so highly respected and revered by people
Mirst geschehen des ich ie bat
Everything that I have ever prayed for has now happened to me
Ich bin komen an die stat
I have arrived at the place
Da got mennischlichen trat
Where God took on human form
Schæniu lant rîch unde hêre
A beautiful, rich, and glorious land
Waz ich der noch han gesehen
The most impressive thing I have ever seen
Sô bist duz ir aller êre
You are the true glory of all
Waz ist wunders hie geschehen!
What a marvel has happened here!
Daz ein magt ein kint gebar
A maiden has given birth to a child
Here ubr aller engel schar
Higher than all the hosts of angels
Waz daz niht ein wunder gar?
Is this not a wondrous thing?
Daz in dô des niht verdrôz
It did not bother him at all
Dast ein wunder alze grôz
That it was such an enormous miracle
Aller wunder übergnôz
That it surpasses all other miracles
Contributed by Xavier I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.