Mediaeval Baebes

Baebes give Early Music a makeover! It looks like Nigel Kennedy, Roberto Alagna, and Luciano Pavarotti can't cut it in the classical charts when challenged by a dozen temptresses chanting the hottest sounds of the thirteenth century. The Mediaeval Baebes is a talented vocal group (which also happens to imbue the presentation of Early Music with a certain Anglo-sex-on-legs kind of style). Their debut album SALVA NOS went straight into the Classical Chart at Number 2, stayed in the top ten for three months and beat off all the big names in the business; it was the eighth biggest seller of the year and the only classical debut to go silver in 1997; to date it's sold over 60,000 copies in the UK alone. Most of the tracks are original compositions by Katharine Blake and the group's other members. The lyrics draw on 13th, 14th and 15th century poetry, set to music composed in the twentieth century in a medieval idiom. With its broader range of harmonies and stronger percussion, the group has a distinctively up-beat feel where 21st century technology meets 13th century culture, admirably illustrating The Times' contention that the Mediaeval Baebes are the "Spice Girls set loose in the court of King Henry VIII". But ignore the idiosyncrasies of image which the Baebes play on with the zest of naughty children, and you are left with an extraordinary, balanced and highly proficient vocal ensemble. As The Independent commented "they do what they do remarkably", they "hold everyone in a hypnotic trance", and their singing "makes ... the hairs stand up shiveringly on your neck". It's "mediaeval soul music" (The Times). Ultimately it's the quality of their artistry - and not their strikingly sensual appearance - which makes the Mediaeval Baebes such a success. After all, who'd listen to Pavarotti if he hadn't the talent, but appeared in a thong?

Discography

Mirabills

Star of the Sea Trovommi Amor Temptasyon San'c Fuy Belha Ni Prezada All For Love of One The Lament Musa Venit Carmine Kilmeny Lhiannan Shee Umlahi Cittern Segue Return of the Birds Tam Lin Scarborough Fayre Come My Sweet Mark Hur Var Skugga The World Fareth As A Fantasye Away

"Mirabilis" is a Latin word with pre-Christian or pagan origins that was used in the Mediaeval period to describe a supernatural force on the fringes of this world. Eight beautiful women with equally beautiful voices and a fetish for stunning costumes (which they model in the exquisite full-color liner notes and which are now approaching the size and complexity of costumes created for SF's "Beach Blanket Babylon") continue to prove that 13th-15th century English music and poetry are totally hot and sexy. The Baebes, now down to 8 members, bring us another exotic collection of 18 songs largely from early English sources, with music and arrangements by Katherine Blake and other group members. Most songs are lightly accompanied by percussion, dulcimer, zither, saxophone, guitar, keyboards, strings and other instruments. Particularly wonderful are "Musa Venit Carmine," "Lhiannan Shee," "Umlahi" (with words and music by Blake), the haunting "Tam Lin," a sweet and lively cover of "Scarborough Fayre," the folk tune made famous by Simon & Garfunkel, the rhythmic "Come My Sweet," "This World Fareth As A Fantasye," and the ethereal "Away" which features Blake on lead vocal. "Mirabilis" is the 6th recording by the Baebes to grace our PAC catalog, and we have noticed 3 things--each album is excellent, each seems better than the last, and the Baebes are having as much fun dressing up and creating this magical music as we are, seeing and listening to them!  

Listen to Away in Real Audio

Best of

Gaudette The Coventry Carol Salve Virgo Virginum Ah Si Mon Moine Veni, Veni Now Springes The Spray Salva Nos Foweles In The Frith Miri It Is Alba Love Me Broughte Beatrice La Volta Kinderly Swete Sone Pearl When Thou Turuf Is Thy Tour Erthe Upon Erthe Ecci Mundi Gaudium How Death Comes

"The Best of the Mediaeval Baebes" is their 7th CD in our catalog, all notable for their surreal photos of 8 to 13 beautiful, stunningly-attired women who sing like angels. The Baebes love 13th century a cappella (or very lightly accompanied) music, and Medieval poetry set to original compositions by group member Katherine Blake and others. This combination of classical music, sexy-looking women and costumes has made the Baebes big sellers in the a cappella and classical genres, because they sing, arrange and compose remarkably. We've listened to these songs before on previous CDs, but they haven't lost any of their power to enthrall and touch us. "Gaudette," "Ah Si Mon Moine," "Salva Nos" (lightly accompanied title tune of their debut album), "La Volta," "Love Me Broughte," "Kinderley," "Swete Sone," "Pearl," "Earthe Upon Erthe" and "How Death Comes" are particularly fine, but there's not a weak track here. Powerful, memorable and lovely.

Mistletoe and Wine

The Holly and the Ivy Gaudete "Amour de Moi Salva Nos Glass Window There Is No Rose of Swych Vertu Kinderly In Dulce Jubilo Love Me Broughte I Am Eve Quan Vey La Layeta The Coventry Carol Underntide Ecce Mundi Gaudium Blow Northern Wind

Our definition of a Christmas gift would certainly include 8 beautiful women, dressed in mediaeval costume, singing songs adapted from the 11th through the 16th centuries, lightly accompanied such period instruments as Zither, Hurdygurdy, Harmonium, Citern, Glockenspiel and Astrowheel. We don't even know what a number of these instruments look like, but they sound wonderful! "Mistletoe" is classical and even sacred, but the Baebes' vital sound is anything but dry or academic. 15 tunes, some favorites: "The Holly & The Ivy," the traditional French "L'Amour de Moi," the dramatic "Salva Nos," "There Is No Rose of Swych Vertu," "Kimberly," the lovely "In Dulci Jubilo," "I Am Eve," "The Coventry Carol," the spirited "Undrentide" and the plaintive, haunting "Blow, Northern Wind." The beauty of the words and music are rivaled only by the sweet voices and harmonies!

Listen to "Gaudete" in Real Audio.

Salva Nos

Salve Virgo Virginum Now Springes the Spray Ah Si Mon Moine Adam Lay Ibounden Foweles in the Frith The Coventry Carol Gaudete An Adult Lullaby Veni, Veni Salva Nos Verbum Caro Lo, Here My Heart Binnorie O Binnorie (Instrumental) This Ay Night t Miri It Is

This is chant with a modern twist! Twelve alluring women, dressed in medieval garb, singing songs adapted from the Middle Ages. Some of the songs, such as the French dance tune "Ah Si Mon Moine," are lightly accompanied by period-appropriate instrumentation such as recorder or dulcimer. The title track, "Salvo Virgo Virginum," "Veni, Veni" and "Verbum Caro" are sung in Latin; several songs are sung in what must be construed to be Middle English. "The Coventry Carol" and "Gaudete" are familiar holiday songs to most; they are given simple treatment, as was typical of the music of the era, which was defined by monophonic textures or unadorned counterpoint. Much of the music performed was either religious in nature, and sung as part of the Catholic Mass, or, if secular, was an accompaniment for dancing. "Salva Nos" may be a classical recording, and as such it is entirely respectable, but the "Mediaeval Babes" have a vitality that is thoroughly contemporary.

Worldes Blysse

Kinderly All Turns To Yesterday Love Me Broughte Beatrice Ecci Mundi Gaudium Waylaway Alba Why Thy Turuf Is Thy Tour Erthe Upon Erthe Passing Thus Alone La Volta Pearl Swete Sone So Spricht Das Leben C'est La Fin How Death Comes

Who knew that English music from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries could be totally hot? From their debut CD "Salva Nos," these dozen beautiful, young, costume-loving Baebes have been kicking butt, selling CDs and taking names on the classical charts. Their repertoire on "Worldes," and on the previous 4 very successful, excellent recordings features 13th through 15th century poetry set to original compositions by Katherine Blake and other group members, and some accompaniment (drums, piccolo, recorders, zither, dulcimer etc.). Before we forget, the full-color liner notes have wonderful photos and complement the entrancing music. 16 songs, some favorites are the round "Kimberly," the sweet "All Turns to Yesterday," the spirited, upbeat "Ecci Mundi Gaudium," the hypnotic "Waylaway," the harmonic gem "Alba," the rhythmic "Erthe Upon Erthe," "Pearl," the haunting "Swete Sone" and "C'est La Fin," and the bizarre, surrealistic "How Death Comes." The Baebes are hot, to look at and to listen to—and "Worldes Blysse" is their best recording yet!

7789 CD $15.95

The Rose

I am Eve Glass Window Slay Me Suddenly The Snake The Circle of the Lustful Laude Novella There Is NoRose of Swych Vertu Lick the Maypole Razreesh Byrd one Brere Dringo Bell The Rose L'amour De Moi The Woods and The Rivers are Silent Spiriti The Sour Grove Blow Northern Wind

Nine lovely young women, clad in incredible Mediaeval costumes, look up at us from the extensive, beautiful, full-color liner notes of "The Rose," and we may say that they sound every bit as fine as they appear! Most songs are lightly accompanied by period instruments. 17 songs, of which we particularly enjoyed: "Glass Window," the a cappella "Slay Me Suddenly," the powerful "The Snake," "The Circle of the Lustful," the joyful "Laude Novella," the rhythmic "Dringo Bell," the title tune, "The Woods and The Rivers Are Silent," and the strange, but compelling "Spiriti" and "The Sour Grove." The Baebes carry us away to another time and reality, as impermanent as the Rose, and as beautiful!

Undrenside

Undrentide Isabella Quan vey la lauzeta Besse Bunting E volentieri Cantiga Summerisle (The Maypole Song) Averil Secreit Nicht Now welcom somer Veni coronaberis Omnes gentes plaudite (The Drinking Song) Lanquan li jorn At a Springe-wel Dance of the Trolls Maiden in the mor lay E volentieri (reprise) Palatinalied

The Mediaeval Baebes are 12 stunning young women who share with us their love of 11th to 16th century folk and sacred music (and the instruments and costumes of that period) on "Undrentide," their 4th excellent CD. Particularly noteworthy are the full-color, extensive liner notes, which are as beautifully designed and graphically exciting as any we've seen. 19 songs, some of which are mediaeval words put to music by Musical Director Katharine Blake. Some of our favorites: the title tune, "Quon vey la louzeta," the 15th century English "Besse Bunting," "Summerisle" (The Maypole Song), "Secreit Nicht," the raucous "Omnes gentes plaudite" (The Drinking Song), the poignant "Lanquan Li Jorn," "Dance of the Trolls" (instrumental) and the solemn "Palastinalied." Most songs are lightly accompanied. Another Baebes winner!

7072 CD $15.98

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