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
The Lament
Mediæval Bæbes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While care-untroubled mortals sleep
Thou seest a wretch who inly pines
And wanders here to wail and weep
With woe I nightly vigils keep
Beneath thy wan, unwarming beam
And mourn, in lamentation deep
How life and love are all a dream
O thou bright queen, who o'er th'expanse
Now highest reign'st, with boundless sway
Oft has thy silent-marking glance
Observ'd us, fondly-wand'ring, stray
The time, unheeded, sped away
While love's luxurious pulse beat high
Beneath thy silver-gleaming ray
To mark the mutual-kindling eye
The Lament by Mediæval Bæbes is a beautiful, melancholic song that speaks about the fleeting nature of life and love, and our despondent state during sleepless nights. The lyrics begin by addressing the "pale orb," which refers to the moon, which is silently shining while ordinary folks are slumbering peacefully. The persona in the song laments her sorry existence and wanders aimlessly while weeping and sighing. Despite the moon's cold and distant glow, the singer of the song finds comfort in looking up to the night sky and feeling a certain type of kinship with the lunar body. The person in the song spends many sleepless nights in the company of the moon, feeling the weight of life's transience and the ephemeral nature of love. She expresses deep sorrow and mourns the absurdity of it all, how life and love are nothing but fleeting illusions.
The focus of the song later shifts to address the "bright queen," which refers to the moon once again, as she is regarded as a queen in some cultures. The singer's wanderings continue, and the moon watches over her unobtrusively. The lyrics portray the moon as the silent witness to the lovers' time together, marking their fleeting connections before they disappear under the moonlit of the night. The persona in the song reflects on how they were once wild and mad with love under the moon's soft glow. Still, alas, time passes swiftly, and love is like a dream that fades away with each new day.
Overall, The Lament by Medieval Bæbes is a beautiful song that celebrates the moon's calming and romantic allure while also expressing the ineffable sorrow and transience of life and love.
Line by Line Meaning
O thou pale orb that silent shines
Addressing the moon, which shines quietly in the night sky
While care-untroubled mortals sleep
While people who don't have troubles are sleeping
Thou seest a wretch who inly pines
The moon sees a person who is suffering internally
And wanders here to wail and weep
And wanders around while crying and lamenting
With woe I nightly vigils keep
I spend my nights in grief and sadness
Beneath thy wan, unwarming beam
Under the moon's pale and emotionless light
And mourn, in lamentation deep
And deeply mourn and grieve
How life and love are all a dream
About how life and love are nothing but fleeting illusions
O thou bright queen, who o'er th'expanse
Addressing the moon as a bright and powerful ruler
Now highest reign'st, with boundless sway
Currently reigning over the world with unlimited power
Oft has thy silent-marking glance
The moon's silent gaze has often watched over us
Observ'd us, fondly-wand'ring, stray
Watching us as we wandered aimlessly and lovingly
The time, unheeded, sped away
The time passed quickly and without notice
While love's luxurious pulse beat high
While we were overwhelmed with passionate feelings of love
Beneath thy silver-gleaming ray
Under the moon's shining, silver light
To mark the mutual-kindling eye
To witness the sparks of love between two people
Contributed by Liliana D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.