Salva Nos

Mediaeval Baebes | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 8, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Virgin Records Us
• ASIN: B00000AETU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,307 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Salve Virgo Virginum

2. Now Springes the Spray

3. Ah! Si Mon Moine

4. Adam Lay Ibounden

5. Foweles in the Frith

6. So Treiben Wir Den Winter Aus

7. The Coventry Carol

8. Gaudete

9. An Adult Lullaby

10. Veni Veni

11. Salva Nos

12. Verbum Caro

13. Lo, Here My Heart

14. Binnorie O Binnorie

15. This Ay Nicht

16. Miri It Is

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

"Yeaux! Check out the Bæbes!" Rock/pop buyers seeing this disc will probably be amused or intrigued; early music aficionados will likely assume the worst (Spice-Girls-do-Hildegard-with-a-backbeat). Neither need fear: the Mediæval Bæbes may cultivate an irreverent image, but they take their music seriously. Here they give us a selection of well-known (relatively speaking) medieval tunes--including some Christmas songs almost everyone will recognize--plus a few original melodies set to medieval lyrics. They've done a bit of arranging and added a period instrument here and there, but nothing more drastic than Munrow or Savall ever did. The Bæbes' voices aren't as polished as those of Sequentia or Anonymous 4, but their singing, plenty ethereal, has energy that A4 sometimes lacks. Specialists won't hate this record, but there's nothing to intimidate listeners unfamiliar with medieval music. It's really a crossover disc from both directions. --Matthew Westphal

Entertainment Weekly

[T]hey bring a freshness and lack of pretension that coax the beautiful, craggily austere music out of the cloisters and into the clubs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Spare, unearthly recreations of medieval tunes and lyrics, October 1, 2006

By 

Brianna Neal (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Salva Nos (Audio CD)

The Mediaeval Baebes, a group of twelve female vocalists led by Katherine Blake, croon and sigh their way through a variety of Latin, Middle English and medieval French songs in a manner all their own. Usually in unison, and often unaccompanied, the straightforward sound of their voices is simple yet striking. All of the music of "Salva Nos" has a fairy tale quality about it, whether that be in the form of innocent lilts graced by dulcimer and recorders, or primal chants belted out heartily to the deep beat of hand drums. Another world, another time, another aesthetic--this is music that calms and transports you. It may not be entirely authentic in its presentation, but its spirit shines through. "Salva Nos" is by far the most laid back of the Mediaeval Baebes' releases--they keep getting livelier after this one, with more drums, more attitude, and eventually some electronica. But this is where it all started. The Baebes' roster for this recording is: Nicole Frobusch, Carmen Schneider, Katharine Blake, Nichole Sleet, Karen Lupton, Teresa Casella, Marie Findley, Audrey Evans, Clare Ravel, Ruth Galloway, Rachel Van Asch and Cylindra Sapphire, with instrumentalist Dorothy Carter on hurdy gurdy and dulcimer. The next of the Mediaeval Baebes' albums is "Worldes Bliss." Try also the work of the German neo-Medieval group Estampie and the duo Dead Can Dance. And if you'd like to hear early English music performed by authentic period ensembles, here are some suggestions: "Miri It Is" by The Dufay Collective, "English Songs of the Middle Ages" by Sequentia, "An English Ladymass," "On Yoolis Night," "Legends of Nicholas," and "Wolcum Yule" by Anonymous 4, and "A Waverly Consort Christmas."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stop bad-mouthing the Baebes!!!!, March 4, 2001

By 

"uulemnts" (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Salva Nos (Audio CD)

While I do agree that Mediaeval Baebes' Salva Nos is not myfavorite of their trio of Album I still have to say that it is a .. good CD and well worth the price! These girls have guts that not very many other artists I know have. They are not afraid to try new things as anyone with ears can hear if they listen to all three albums. They are, simply put, talented.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Less Cold Than Angels, August 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Salva Nos (Audio CD)

This is not an album for those seeking perfection...but in myopinion this is a near perfect album. I actually like this betterthan most medieval choral music that i have heard, simply because it has a warmth and life to it that the normal church music of this time cannot express.

This is beauty, it is much less cold than those statues of picturesque angels, it is more like a tear streaked face lifting itself to the light with hope, painfully human. I find beauty here that is not expressed by the precision of other more "traditionalistic" bands, such as Anonymous 4.

I myself am not particularly one for songs of christian music at all, yet this cd has given me a beautiful view of the way things might have been. In times of medieval darkness, plague, and poverty, the common people turned to the new arising faith in heart wrenching song to seek answers. Their songs of praise and thanks for good tidings shook the walls with soul-sung happiness. Even though much stucture was used in these songs, the human voice soars above all, brings a life pulsating to that order, which encompasses the universe.....

My congrats to these beautiful ladies and their wonderful vocal and musical accomplishments.

They must be good.....after all they got a pagan goth chick to listen to christian music and see the beauty....and give it 5 stars!