Classical vocal group with a slightly unconventional image

The Origins of the Mediaeval Baebes

In spring 1996, Katherine Blake met Dorothy Carter in Berlin. It snowballed from there. Dorothy convinced Katherine (who was then the lead singer of Miranda Sex Garden) of the virtues of Mediaeval music. Assorted friends were also convinced, and, coming from such backgrounds as acting, psychology and computer programming as well as rock and roll and classical music, the Mediaeval Baebes came together to perform Mediaeval music. Their debut performance was held in a graveyard for an invited audience, and quickly they became the talk of the classical music world. Or so the information supplied with their third album, "Undrentide", says.

The Members

The membership of the Mediaeval Baebes is somewhat fluid, although there are a hard core of Baebes who will probably be there until the end of time. Because of the fluidity I won't bother listing their names here. But there are twelve of them.

The Music

To date, the Mediaeval Baebes have released three albums. The first, entitled "Salva Nos", was released in 1997 and topped the classical charts, as did "Worldes Blysse" in 1998. These two albums are similar in style - collections of instrumental pieces and vocal tracks based on Mediaeval music, poetry or both and performed on instruments authentic to the period. Well, sort of.

The third album, "Undrentide", released in 2000, is somewhat different. The fundamental style is still there, but under a new producer the Baebes have branched out into the use of more modern instruments and styles. There are still tracks in the style of the first two albums, but others, "Omnes Gentes Plaudite" especially, take the style a bit further and bring it forward into the modern world.

I also saw, once, a "Best of" album which seemed to contain almost all of the tracks from Salva Nos and Worldes Blysse. This release seems a bit pointless, but it's about nonetheless.

Track Lists

So you have some idea of what's on the albums, here are the tracks, along with what kind they are and, briefly, their origin:

Salva Nos

1. Salve Virgo Virginum - vocal, 13th Century Latin
2. Now Springes The Spray - vocal, 14th Century English
3. Ah Si Mon Moine - vocal, French (no date)
4. Adam Lay Ibounden - vocal, 15th Century English
5. Foweles In The Frith - vocal, 13th Century English
6. So Trieben Wir Den Winter Aus - Instrumental (no date)
7. The Coventry Carol - vocal, 16th Century English
8. Gaudete - vocal, Latin (no date)
9. Adult Lullaby - vocal, 14th Century English. Earliest known lullaby
10. Veni, Veni - vocal, 13th Century Latin
11. Salva Nos - vocal, 13th Century Latin
12. Verbum Caro - vocal, 12th Century Latin
13. Lo, Here My Hert - vocal, 15th Century English
14. Binnorie O Binnorie - instrumental
15. This Ay Nicht - vocal, English (no date)
16. Miri It Is - vocal, 13th Century English

Worldes Blysse

1. Kinderly - vocal, Middle English
2. All Turns To Yesterday - vocal, Mediaeval English
3. Love Me Broughte - vocal, 14th Century English
4. Beatrice - vocal, Mediaeval Italian
5. Ecci Mundi Gaudium - vocal, 13th Century English
6. Waylaway - vocal - English (no date)
7. Alba - vocal, 12th Century
8. When Thy Turuf Is Thy Tour - vocal, Middle English
9. Erthe Upon Erthe - vocal, 15th Century English
10. Passing Thus Alone - vocal, Mediaeval English
11. La Volta - instrumental, 16th Century Italian
12. Pearl - vocal, Mediaeval English
13. Swete Sone - vocal, Middle English
14. So Spricht Das Leben - vocal
15. C'Est La Fin - vocal, Traditional (from Brittany)
16. How Death Comes - vocal, 13th Century English

Undrentide

1. Undrentide - vocal, Middle English
2. Isabelle - vocal, Modern Italian (original, written by Nicole Frobusch)
3. Quan vey la lauzete - vocal, Mediaeval French
4. Besse Bunting - vocal, 15th Century English
5. E volentieri - vocal, 14th Century Italian
6. Cantiga - intrumental, Mediaeval Spanish
7. Summerisle (The Maypole Song) - vocal, English (1973)
8. Averil - vocal, 13th-14th Century English
9. Secreit Nicht - vocal, 16th Century English
10. Now welcom somer - vocal, 14th Century English
11. Veni coronaberis - vocal, 15th Century English
12. Omnes gentes plaudite (The Drinking Song) - vocal, Middle English
13. Lanquan li jorn - vocal, 12th Century French
14. At a Springe-wel - vocal, 14th Century English
15. Dance of the Trolls - instrumental, original, composed by Teresa Casella
16. Maiden in the mor lay - vocal, 14th Century English
17. E volentieri (reprise) - vocal as "E volentieri"
18. Palästinalied - vocal, Mediaeval German

Other information

For more up-to-date information you might like to try The Mediaeval Baebes Website. Apparently, the Baebes have been banned from performing on the BBC programme "Songs of Praise" due to their image. A look inside the booklet that comes with "Salva Nos" will soon tell you why.