Mediaeval Baebes – December Tour
The Mediaeval Baebes’ Glorious Torchlit Procession
Delight in glorious merriment as the Mediaeval Baebes’ Christmas concert observes tradition and commences with a torchlit procession. Starting with the ‘Lighting of the Chalice’ ceremony on Wednesday 4th December at 6.55 pm, the procession will weave its way from The Fir Tree Public House, OX4 1EJ, along to St John the Evangelist Church with song and dance, pomp and pageantry.
Baring aloft the chalice and flaming torches, they will be joined by musicians playing drums, bagpipes, whistles, stringed instruments and much more. Concert goers are invited to join in the pageantry, or to just enjoy the illuminated spectacle, before it enters the Church ahead of a remarkable evening of festive music and entertainment.
Established as one of the most successful female-led, early music and folk ensembles in Europe; lush, ethereal harmonies will transport the listener through a myriad of ancient and forgotten languages.
The Mediaeval Baebes was conceptualised and formed in 1996 by musical director, composer and producer Katharine Blake. The group has released 10 studio albums, won an Ivor Novella Award for their performance in the BBC serialisation ‘The Virgin Queen’, and 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 ‘Victoria’.
Katharine Blake is known for her unique choral writing style, sourcing lyrics from mediaeval and romantic texts which she sets to original scores, as well as reinventing traditional and folk songs, often accompanied by the Mediaeval Baebes’ plethora of mediaeval and folk instruments. The more familiar material, such as their classic anthology of Christmas Carols ‘Of Kings and Angels’ offers a refreshing and exotic twist to well-known classics.
Doors 7 pm.