>> PREVIEW
MEDIAEVAL BAEBES
Tuesday, October 4
MacEwan Hall (U of C)
If you’ve never heard the multi-tonal trip to heaven that is the Mediaeval Baebes, then just imagine yourself as an honoured guest at a Renaissance feast. Creating a unique listening experience is the name of the game for the seven sister sirens who make up the current ranks of this critically acclaimed chorus.
Blending the ancient with the modern, founding member and songwriter Katherine Blake has cultivated her passion for historical literature into a successful music career by adapting selections from dusty old tomes into sparkling new tunes. This fall the band released their sixth album since their inception in London, England in 1996 – Mirabilis is a compelling and highly entertaining collection of pieces that showcases the octave-defying feats of the Mediaeval Baebes talented lineup.
"Mirabilis is a pre-Christian expression that translates as ‘miraculous,’" says Blake. "It refers to unexplained forces or marvels that occur on the fringes of the known world. It deals with supernatural seduction."
The challenge of composing original works around foreign tongues, half a dozen other vocalists and period instruments is a daunting one, but Blake continues to find fresh sources of inspiration in that which has come before.
"I just love cranky old instruments," she muses. "The hurdy gurdy is one of my favourite instruments of torture."
Paring down from 12 members to the current handful changes the sound of the Baebes, but even beyond that the group has found new challenges that add subtle texture to their music.
"In addition to the ancient forms of Latin, English, Gaelic, Welsh and Italian that we were already using, new languages that we’ve tackled this time include Swedish, Cornish and Isle of Man. I think a lot of people don’t realize that each of our songs is an original composition framed around medieval text. There is a common misconception that we are trying to be historically accurate re-creationists. We are not exclusively medieval. We are simply drawing inspiration from those times. I think that’s why we appeal to such a wide range of people. Our audience ranges from goths to grannies." |
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