THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
Mediæval Bæbes' new album Mydwynter infuses the holiday season with the flavor of times past, which is wholly appropriate for Britain with its castles and cathedrals and its romantic legends of knights and ladies. But Mydwynter is not just for Britain celebrating Christian myths. The Mediæval Bæbes' 11th studio album has been described as "a darker reminder of the pre-Christian origins of the winter festival". It provides a soundtrack to a more authentic sense of the season and it "accepts that not every winter mystery can be wholly illuminated."
Quite apart from that, it is beautiful music.
But are the Mediæval Bæbes medieval? To answer that question, The American magazine went to Dr Gary Macy, who specializes in the Middle Ages. Speaking from Oregon in the United States, Macy explained that "Christmas was always a mixture of Christian and pre-Christian rites and still is, particularly in northern Europe where the end of winter was really something to celebrate. Celebrations took the form of feasting and eating and singing and dancing." He added: "Yeah, the Bæbes strike just the right medieval note."
In fact, they strike the right note throughout the album. Mydwynter is twelve songs, providing a traditional foundation for the season. A number of pre-Christian mid-winter celebrations including Yule, lasted 12 days. In an attempt to hold on to some of the older rituals, Christians adopted the Twelve Days of Christmas, which run from December 25 to January 6.
The first track, 'Song of the Bells', is based on a Ukrainian folk song. It serves as the perfect start to the season, with the Bæbes reintroducing the mystery of this moment in time with a haunting vocal solo shadowed by the chorus and violin.
'Deck the Halls' comes next, serving as a reminder of the ancient Druid custom of decorating with holly and mistletoe. This version's sublime vocals are accompanied by traditional instrumentation. It might almost be a call to action, to get out the secateurs and head to the holly and oaks for the mistletoe.
'Personent Hodie' is believed to be a variation of an earlier 12th century song honoring Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children. The hymn is now associated with the Feast of the Holy Innocents (December 28) when choristers and a "boy bishop" displaced senior clergy. This role reversal is a very old tradition that goes back to Roman and Yule festivities. For example, the Lord of Misrule who was in charge of Christmas revelries, included drunkenness and the upending of the ordinary rules. Lords served peasants amidst wild goings on. You could appoint a Lord of the Misrule for the office holiday party!
While each song is an incredible exposition of the thrilling power of the human voice, some provide more specific guidance for celebrating mid-winter. 'Noël Nouvelet' is a traditional French carol, celebrating the figures in the crèche, the nativity scenes that are part of Christmas in so many homes and town squares around the world. One effort to humanize (or humorize) a crèche is the Catalonian tradition where El Caganer – literally "the pooper" – reposes in every crèche. Modern caganers represent people in authority, and thereby act as a leveling device to bring the mighty down.
'Ríu Ríu Chíu' has been recorded many times, including by The Monkees; they performed it live in 1967 on a Christmas episode of their television show, and later released a studio version. But the Bæbes offer an exceptional version, certainly more authentic.
Another guide to medieval celebration is 'Gower Wassail', though this version is a bit precious for what is a rowdy drinking song. The story goes that groups of wassail boys went from manor to manor, singing for wassail - spiced cider or ale. This song mentions both, and the spices with which to flavor the drink. The Bæbes leave the listener with a sense that it's time to get out the big kettle, brew a batch of wassail and invite the neighbors over for a sing-a-long.
Asked if eating and drinking was a big part of medieval holidays, Macy said there was roasted meat of any and every kind and though "spices were rare and expensive, Christmas is when they pulled them out." He added that there was "lots of drinking: ale, mead, wine, better if mulled. No forks, just the knives everyone carried anyway. You could dip your food into the sauce but only up to the first knuckle if you were polite. Food was served family style, everyone just dug in with their hands and knives (although they did have spoons). Plates (trenchers) were often made of bread so you could eat them once they were thoroughly soaked with sauce and juice."
The oldest song on Mydwynter is 'Laudes Celebret', which is said to date from the fourth century and reprises the story of the three wise men who brought gifts to baby Jesus. Beginning with a single instrument, it slowly builds with the addition of others until the Bæbes join in a joyful celebration of the first Christmas gifts.
That said, gift-giving was not a major part of a medieval Christmas, as Macy explains: "Lords, ladies, kings and other rich people had elaborate feasts with more food than they could possibly eat. That was deliberate as the extra food was meant for the people who worked for them, and particularly for the poor. Helping the poor was taken as a serious obligation on the part of the better-off and what better time to share than in mid-winter, and, incidentally, on the day of the birth of the poor baby Jesus." Perhaps in winter 2022, beset by the rising cost of living, it might be a good custom to revive.
Mydwynter is a gift from Katharine Blake, who produced and arranged the album, the Bæbes - Fiona Fey, Marie Findlay, Sophia Halberstam, Maya McCourt and Josephine Ravenheart - and the musicians whose playing perfectly matches the Bæbes voices and sensibility. They have made a significant contribution to the expansive collection of Christmas albums. Mydwynter should be on every playlist. And it is a tremendous guide to a medieval Christmas. Even Odo of Cologne would approve. (Odo's a favorite of Dr Macy).
Mydwynter is released on November 25 followed by a tour through December for the real sounds of the Middle Ages. Schedule and Tickets online at www.mediaevalbaebes.com/live
