Star of the Sea

Date: 17 October 2005 10:38:07

Today Mirabilis, my fifth CD of the Mediævel Bæbes, arrived. Long-suffering readers may recall me talking about the Bæbes previously.

I greatly enjoy mediæval poetry and music, and it is the Bæbes' speciality. Whether they are singing a Christian song, a folk song, love poems, or part of a fairytale, I find it captivating. They have wonderful voices: at times rough, at times smooth -- but always beautiful. And there is a wide range of musical instruments employed: from recorders, zithers, violas and dulcimers to acoustic guitars and drums. It all combines to transport you back to ages past. Many songs, especially those relating to love poems and fairytales, I find myself visualising the scene in my imagination.

The new album is wondrous and I have many favourites already, after only one listening. One of them is Star of the Sea, written in Macaronic Verse (like another of my favourite hymns, In Dulci Jubilo). You can listen to a little of the song via Amazon.com here.

Of on that is so fair and bright,
Velud maris stella,
Brighter than the dayes light,
Parens et puella:
Ic crye to thee - thou se to me-
Levedy, preye thy sone for me,
Tam pia,
That ic mote come to thee,
Maria.

Levedy, flowr of alle thing,
Rosa sine spina,
Thu bere Jesu, Hevene King,
Gratia divina.
Of alle thu berst the pris,
Levedy, Quene of Paradis
Electa;
Maide milde, moder es
Effecta.

All this world was forlore
Eva peccatrice,
Till our Lord was ibore
De te genitrice.
With ‘Ave' it went away,
Thuster night, and cometh the day
Salutis.
The welle springeth ut of thee
Virtutis.

Of care, conseil though ert best,
Felix fecundata;
Of alle wery thou ert rest.
Mater honorata.
Besek him with milde mod,
That for ous alle sad his blod
In cruce,
That we moten comen till him
In luce.

Fairest and brightest of them all
Even the star of the sea
Brighter even than daylight
Mother and daughter both
I call to you - to smile upon me
Mistress, implore of your son for me
In humble penitence
That I might come to you
Mary.

Lady, flower of creation
Rose without thorns
You carried Jesus, King of Heaven
Through your divine grace
Above all others you win the prize
Lady, Queen of Paradise
The chosen one
Gentle virgin and mother
So fruitful.

The whole world was lost
On account of Eve's folly
Until our Lord was born
Through your bounty
With a final farewell departing
Darkest night gave way to day
With a greeting
All that is well springs from you
In your virtue.

In sorrow you are the best advisor
Good fortune in abundance
All who are weary find rest in you
Honoured mother on high
So kindly please entreat him
He who shed his blood for us all
On the cross
To let us come by him
Into the light.

[Note: "Star of the Sea" is one of the earliest titles of Mary, going back to St Jerome.]