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
She Walks In Beauty
Mediæval Bæbes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of cloudless climes and starry skies,
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes;
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!
The song 'She Walks In Beauty' by Mediæval Bæbes is a musical adaptation of Lord Byron's poem, which describes a woman's beauty comparable to the clear sky full of stars. The first stanza describes the woman's beauty as seamless and stunning, a quality as rare as a night sky without clouds. The second stanza speaks of the woman's grace and how any alteration, even one shade or one ray less, could diminish such beauty.
The third and final stanza highlights the woman's softness and tranquillity. The lines capture the essence of a wise and peaceful soul, who leads an innocent life full of love. The lyrics are carefully crafted, not only to complement the melody but also to convey the message of inner beauty and peace.
In conclusion, the song 'She Walks In Beauty' celebrates a woman's physical beauty, but not at the cost of her inner virtues. Rather, the song's purpose is to show that true beauty comes from a combination of external and internal elements.
Line by Line Meaning
She walks in beauty, like the night
She gracefully moves like the calm and enchanting night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies,
Of pristine regions and sky full of stars
And all that's best of dark and bright
She embodies the best of both dark and bright qualities
Meet in her aspect and her eyes;
Both her look and eyes reflect and comprise all her remarkable traits
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Her essence is tendered and softened like a serene light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
Something that is denied by the dazzling daylight, which is a heavenly gift
One shade the more, one ray the less,
A single shade or ray less, can somewhat take away from the grace she naturally possesses
Had half impaired the nameless grace
That unnamed, incomparable grace she adorns would have lost half of its power
Which waves in every raven tress,
Which elegantly figures in every strand of her dark hair
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Or tenderly illuminates her face
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
Where her sweet and serene thoughts are clearly conveyed
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
How sacred and dear her mind and heart are
And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
Her cheeks and forehead are graced with
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
A soft, tranquil, yet eloquent spirit
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
Her smile and radiance are so charming and captivating
But tell of days in goodness spent,
They tell of her virtuous past
A mind at peace with all below,
A mind that is at peace with everything around her
A heart whose love is innocent!
A heart that loves innocently and purely
Contributed by Blake B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.