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
Sunrise
Mediæval Bæbes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the doubt of future foes will come now not ever
the merry are dancing the children play in heather
the river is flowing with love and joy forever
we will not be parted never broken hearted
this is the melody of victory today
this is the melody of mortal bliss and light
sunrise will vanquish all eternal night
dance happy people and join with this glory
we are as one and this is our story
what of our sorrows when we were in torment
now we are blissful and misery is dormant
The lyrics to Mediæval Bæbes's song "Sunrise" are a celebration of triumph and joy, as well as an expression of hope for the future. The opening lines invite all to join in the song of joy and camaraderie, with the reassurance that the fears of future enemies will never come to pass. The imagery throughout the song emphasizes the carefree nature of those who revel in the sunshine, as the merry dance and play, the river flows with love and joy, and the children play in heather.
The main message of the song is that the present moment is a time of victory, marked by the melody of the song itself, which captures the essence of "mortal bliss and light." The lyrics encourage listeners to be happy and hopeful as they journey forth, and to embrace the sense of oneness that the melody inspires. By the end of the song, the singers reflect on the past pains and sorrows of their lives, but find that they are now "blissful" and free of "misery."
Overall, the lyrics of "Sunrise" are a powerful reminder of the power and importance of hope, joy, and togetherness. They encourage the listener to look forward to the future with confidence and optimism, and to cherish the present moment with those around them.
Line by Line Meaning
sing all ye joyful now sing ye together
Let us all sing together, filled with joy and happiness
the doubt of future foes will come now not ever
We have no fear of future enemies, as they will never be victorious
the merry are dancing the children play in heather
Everyone is filled with joy, as we dance and play in the beautiful heather
the river is flowing with love and joy forever
Love and joy will always flow like a river, unending and everlasting
we will not be parted never broken hearted
We will never be separated or left broken-hearted
this is the melody of victory today
This song is the melody of victory, as we celebrate today
hopeful and happy we must be on our way
We must continue our journey with hopefulness and happiness in our hearts
this is the melody of mortal bliss and light
This song is the melody of mortal happiness and light
sunrise will vanquish all eternal night
The sunrise will bring an end to eternal darkness and despair
dance happy people and join with this glory
Let us all dance happily and join in this glorious moment together
we are as one and this is our story
We are all connected and this is our shared story
what of our sorrows when we were in torment
What happened to our sorrows when we were tormented?
now we are blissful and misery is dormant
Now we are filled with bliss and misery is no longer active or present
Contributed by Stella C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kyra Kennedy
This is one of my favorite songs of this band! =D
Princess Resilia
Joy and peace for 2021 🙏🌈 Pray for better!
Romarinho89
its more energizing then the other songs i know of them
laela1
Beautiful visuals placed here!!!!
Denise RB
Wonderful sing abd amazing pictures! Thanks!
kunekune
I do like their music!
pyromaniacdemon
this song makes me want to dance!
markpie explores
Most uplifting thing ever
Ingeborg Vangsnes
I suddenly find myself wanting to dance... :)
Ty Fowler
Dance!