The Mediæval Bæbes is an English ensemble of female musicians founded by Mi… Read Full Bio ↴The Mediæval Bæbes is an English ensemble of female musicians founded by Miranda Sex Garden member Katharine Blake in London in 1996, featuring some of her MSG cohorts as well as other friends who share her love of medieval music. The lineup often rotates from album to album, and ranges from 6to 12 members.

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

To the One
Mediæval Bæbes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

a celuy que pluys eyme en monde
of alle tho that i have found
carissima
saluz od treye amour
with grace and joye and alle honour
dulcissima

sachez bien pleysant et beele

that i am right in good heele
laus christo
et mon amour doné vous ay
and also thine owene night and day
incisto

jeo vous pry par charité
the wordes that here wreten be
jeo vous pry par charité
o à dieu valete

sachez bien par verite
thou me peinest bothe night and day
amore

ma tresduce et tresamé
night and day for love of thee
suspiro

sachez bien par verite
yif i deye i clepe to thee
amantem

vostre amour en moun qoer
brenneyh hote as doth the fir
cressendo

cest est ma volunte

that i might be with thee
ludendo

Overall Meaning

The Mediæval Bæbes' song "To The One" is a beautiful and heartfelt expression of love to someone special. The song is essentially a poem set to music, with each verse expressing different aspects of the singer's feelings towards the person she loves. The first verse conveys the idea that the singer's love for this person is greater than anyone else in the world. She addresses the person as 'carissima,' which means 'beloved' in Italian, and goes on to say that her love is accompanied by health, joy, grace, and honor.

In the next verse, the singer tells the person that she is healthy and wishes to give her love and herself to him. She asks for charity and bids farewell to him with the phrase, "o à dieu valete." The third verse talks about how the person causes the singer pain both day and night, but despite the discomfort, she still loves him. She refers to him as 'amore' and 'amantem,' which means 'love' and 'lover,' respectively.

The final verse talks about the strength of the singer's love for the person. She says that her love burns hot in her heart like fire, and she wants nothing more than to be with him. The verse ends with the word 'ludendo,' which means 'playing' in Latin, suggesting that the singer sees love as a joyful, playful thing.

Overall, "To The One" is a beautiful and expressive love song that captures the passion and intensity of love.

Line by Line Meaning

a celuy que pluys eyme en monde
To the one I love the most in this world

of alle tho that i have found
Out of everyone I have ever encountered

carissima
Dearest one

saluz od treye amour
Health with true love

with grace and joye and alle honour
With grace, joy, and all honor

dulcissima
Sweetest one

sachez bien pleysant et beele
Know well, pleasant and fair

that i am right in good heele
That I am well and healthy

laus christo
Praise to Christ

et mon amour doné vous ay
And my love I have given to you