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 Shepherd's Song
Mediæval Bæbes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we will all the pleasures prove
That hills and valleys, dale and field
And all the craggy mountain yields
The shepherd swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May-morning
And see the shepherds feed their flocks
By shallow rivers, to whose falls
Melodious birds sing madrigals
The shepherd swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May-morning
There will I make thee beds of roses
And a thousand fragrant posies
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle
Embroider’d all with leaves of myrtle
The shepherd swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May-morning
A gown made of the finest wool
Which from our pretty lambs we pull
Fair linèd slippers for the cold
With buckles of the purest gold
The shepherd swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May-morning
A belt of straw and ivy buds
With coral clasps and amber studs
And if these pleasures may thee move
Come live with me and be my love
The shepherd swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May-morning
If these delights thy mind may move
Then live with me and be my love
That hills and valleys, dale and field
And all the craggy mountain yields
The shepherd swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May-morning
The Shepherd's Song by Mediæval Bæbes is a love song that invites the beloved to come and live with the singer and experience all the enchanting pleasures that nature can offer. The first verse offers an invitation to live together and enjoy the pleasures that the mountains and fields can provide. The second verse describes the romantic setting where they can sit together and watch the shepherds tending to their sheep by the riverside, while birds sing sweetly. In the third verse, the singer creates a scene of beauty and lavishness for the beloved, promising to make beds of roses, a cap of flowers, and a kirtle embroidered with myrtle leaves. The final verse is an enticement to the beloved with the promise of a life of love and pleasure that is offered if only they come live with the singer.
The lyrics suggest a romantic and carefree lifestyle that is set against the beauty of nature. There is also a sense of nostalgia in the song, as the singer encourages the beloved to live in a world that celebrates the simple things in life. The tune is upbeat and cheerful, and the music is predominantly medieval, evoking imagery of a bygone era.
Line by Line Meaning
Come live with me and be my love
Join me in living together and being in love
And we will all the pleasures prove
Together we will experience all the pleasures life offers
That hills and valleys, dale and field
We will explore the beautiful landscapes of hills, valleys, and fields
And all the craggy mountain yields
We shall seek out all the resources and experiences that the craggy mountains provide
The shepherd swains shall dance and sing
These shepherd men shall dance and sing for our delight
For thy delight each May-morning
They shall do so for our enjoyment every morning in May
There will we sit upon the rocks
There we shall sit upon the rocks
And see the shepherds feed their flocks
As we observe the shepherds tending to their flocks
By shallow rivers, to whose falls
Next to shallow rivers, where we can hear the sounds of a waterfall
Melodious birds sing madrigals
We will be entertained by the beautiful songs of the birds
There will I make thee beds of roses
I will create for you beds made of roses
And a thousand fragrant posies
I will give you a thousand aromatic bouquets
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle
A hat made of flowers and a dress with intricate floral details
Embroider’d all with leaves of myrtle
The clothes shall be adorned with myrtle leaves
A gown made of the finest wool
I shall give you a gown made of the highest quality wool
Which from our pretty lambs we pull
That comes from our adorable lambs
Fair linèd slippers for the cold
Slippers with cozy lining to protect you from the cold
With buckles of the purest gold
Embellished with gold buckles of the highest purity
A belt of straw and ivy buds
A belt made of straw and ivy flowers
With coral clasps and amber studs
Featuring clasps made of coral and decorative studs of amber
And if these pleasures may thee move
If these pleasures may excite you
Come live with me and be my love
Join me in living together and being in love
If these delights thy mind may move
If these delights captivate your mind
Then live with me and be my love
Then come live with me and be my love
That hills and valleys, dale and field
We will explore the beautiful landscapes of hills, valleys, and fields
And all the craggy mountain yields
We shall seek out all the resources and experiences that the craggy mountains provide
The shepherd swains shall dance and sing
These shepherd men shall dance and sing for our delight
For thy delight each May-morning
They shall do so for our enjoyment every morning in May
Contributed by Logan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ninakaritzi7400
With all honesty, SENSATIONAL