Enter the enchanting world the Mediaeval Baebes at Stables
Acclaimed ensemble to bring past and present together in a soundscape that is entirely their own
The internationally acclaimed Mediaeval Baebes will marking 30 years of timeless song when they bring their atmospheric show to The Stables in December.
The evening promises ethereal music, haunting harmonies and genre-defying artistry, with the concert preceded by a torchlit procession, accompanied by a musical fanfare of medieval instruments and drums.
The story of the Mediaeval Baebes began in 1996 when musical director and composer Katharine Blake slipped into a cemetary in London at midnight, to sing madrigals with a group of friends. From these unconventional beginnings emerged one of the most distinctive and celebrated vocal groups of modern times.
Over the past 30 years, the Mediaeval Baebes have released 12 studio albums and won an Ivor Novello Award for their performance on the BBC serialisation The Virgin Queen. They have also received two Emmy nominations, and a Royal Television Society award as the featured artist alongside composer Martin Phipps, for the theme tune of ITV’s hit TV show Victoria.
Throughout their many incarnations the Mediaeval Baebes have captivated audiences worldwide, touring extensively across the UK, United States, Canada, Asia, and Europe. Their performances have spanned an extraordinary range of venues, from castles and caves, to cathedrals and festival stages. Highlights include appearances at the Royal Albert Hall, Carnglaze Caverns in Cornwall, Jersey Opera House and Tewkesbury Abbey, along with the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival. They have toured alongside Jools Holland, supported Michael Flatley in Hyde Park and performed at the renowned Lilith Fair. They were also invited by Iggy Pop to perform on his BBC Radio 6 Music Christmas Day special.
To celebrate 30 years of music-making, the Mediaeval Baebes will once again be bring past and present together in a soundscape that is entirely their own. The concert will weave together ancient texts, traditional melodies and original compositions, including tracks from the latest album The Spinning Wheel. Showcasing a 12 songs inspired by the months of the year, they journey through the seasons from what they call the “frost-bright winter laments to the heat-hazed longing of high summer”.
Katharine Blake is known for her unique choral writing style. Sourcing lyrics from mediaeval and romantic texts which she sets to original scores, she reinvents traditional and folk songs. The choice of mediaeval texts is mythological, philosophical and often dark in topic, meditating upon everything from the the inevitability of death and the pointlessness of material possessions to the agony of unrequited love and the dangers of wine-fuelled hallucinations. The more familiar material, such as their classic anthology of Christmas carols Of Kings and Angels, offers a refreshing and exotic twist on well-known classics
Katharine Blake is also known as the lead singer and songwriter of ‘90s avant-garde rock band Miranda Sex Garden, and has worked with Nick Cave, Michael Nyman and John Cale.
The Mediaeval Baebes perform at The Stables in Wavendon on Thursday December 3. Visit stables.org or call 01908 280800 to book.