Mirabilis

Mediaeval Baebes

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 19, 2005)
• Original Release Date: July 19, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nettwerk Records
• ASIN: B0009VBU5Y
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,047 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

On Mirabilis, the Mediaeval Baebes drill even deeper (and wider) into their chorale sound, making music with ancient roots and timeless designs. An octet of Englishwomen with a penchant for dressing up in flouncy gothic gowns just this side of Victoria's Secret, they've released several albums mining medieval hymns and plainsong. They're still at it here, matching obscure Latin, Gaelic, and old English texts (along with the odd Robert Burns poem) to music that is often newly composed but sounds as if it came out of a Dark Ages court or monastery. But without ever playing instruments more modern than the violin, they bring a modern arranger's head to tunes that float on percussion, recorder, concertina, cittern, hurdy-gurdy, and strings. Under the musical direction of founder Katherine Blake, the harmonies are richer and more complex than on previous Baebes discs. Emily Ovenden's "Temptasyon" flies with soaring three-part harmony and lush accompaniment of strings, both modern and ancient. The Baebes get a little arty on a horror-house reading of "Tam Lin," and they perhaps had to cover "Scarborough Fayre" at some point. But they more than make up for it with the serene "Star of the Sea." This is one time you won't mind having someone get Mediaeval on you. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Haunting voices, January 20, 2006

By	sylver_one (Netherlands) - See all my reviews

I love the baebes. I discovered The Rose in a music search on Amazon, ordered it, listened, and ordered worldes blysse. This one is the next addition to my collection, and my favorite of the baebes cd's.

They have perfected their art, and their harmonies are even more haunting than on the aforementioned cd's. I know this is not for the medieval purists, it does not have the icy precision of the anonymous 4 and the hilliard ensemble. I have cd's of both ensembles, but the baebes find their way to my cd player more often, they bring such life to this music.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deep, wild and wonderfully wyrd!, October 1, 2006

By	Brianna Neal (USA) - See all my reviews

Joined this time by an entire ensemble of period and modern instruments that layer in with the women's vocals, the Mediaeval Baebes continue to deepen and flesh out their sound, experimenting with new stylistic elements ranging from traditional folk and folk rock to African-style percussive chant and even an atonal choral symphony. The Baebes continue to take turns at playing instruments and composing the music, too, displaying their diverse sensibilities while never straying too far from the group's signature sound--a blend of driving, unison chants with wispy, straight-toned solos and mesmerizing whirlwinds of naturally looping vocals and instrumentals. The mix of lively and laid back songs on "Mirabilis" is about half and half, with the lively songs being highly and intriguingly percussive but (thankfully!) with nary a mindless, programmed club-beat in earshot. #15, in particular, "Come My Sweet," is a great dance song and all acoustic. The only electronic sound on this album seems to be from an occasional electric guitar or bass, judiciously used. The rest is all natural, and still wickedly cool. For more pseudo-medieval music with a modern edge, try also the recordings of Faun, Estampie, Corvus Corax, Qntal, Dead Can Dance, and "MCMXC A.D." by Enigma. And if you'd like to take the plunge and try the real thing, check out the following: "Music of the Crusades" by David Munrow and the Early Music Consort of London, "Cantigas de Amigo" by Ensemble Alcatraz and Kitka, "On the Way to Bethlehem" by Ensemble Unicorn, and "Perceval: The Quest for the Grail" by La Nef, "Libre Vermell" by Sarband, "Istanpitta" I and II by New York's Ensemble for Early Music, and anything by Wolgemut. Great stuff--unplugged and all on its own!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes! A victory for plainsong!, November 8, 2005

By	Stars Without Names (Tempe, AZ) - See all my reviews

I have always loved plainsong and ancient musical forms and harmonies. (Mixolydian mode, anyone?) This music is blowing my mind! It's like when I first heard Outgrabe and thought, I'm home." If you love fantastic singing and otherwordly mindscapes, buy this CD. If you want to see more, and different, and wonderful things, buy this CD. You go, gaerls!