[New Rendition] Anonymous English: Edi beo thu hevene quene (c.1280)

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Edi beo þu (thu) hevene Quene (3 arrangements)

0:06 Original 2-part song for soprano and alto
1:30 Instrumental arrangement for psaltery and harp
2:12 Instrumental arrangement for vielle & psaltery

Although the richly bound volume that contains "Edi beo" was gifted to an English countess in the second decade of the 14th century, many of its parchment pages (including this one) were created in the previous century. This song, written in late Old English, is a devotional piece in praise of the Virgin Mary - a common point of reference for a deeply Catholic England. There is ongoing debate whether or not it is a celebratory Christmas hymn or a simple carol. The simple 2-voice song is unusual for its time when most European polyphonic music consisted of harmonic intervals of major 4ths and major 5ths. Instead, this work contains intervals of 3rds and 6ths (thus, by some standards, its "Modern" sonority). Its origins have been traced to the now destroyed Augustinian Priory of Llanthony Valley in Monmouthshire, Wales where there once stood a great Gothic monastery. Some have said that the tune's true roots go back even further to the Norsemen who were fond of 2 part harmonized music. In an age when musical literacy was virtually nonexistent in non-clerical circles, this manuscript was likely intended for church singers. See the following website for more information about this song and the manuscript whence it came:

https://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/news-and-events/latest-news/edi-beo-thu/

This recording was made using the Vocaloid 4 voice encoding software from Yamaha and the MAIKA Spanish language vocal module. In the interest of brevity, I only used the first 2 of 8 verses in the original score. The instrumental arrangements were made using MusicStudio2 (iPhone app). In this latest rendition, I slowed the tempo, added a bit of "natural" variation in vocal dynamics and corrected some of the pronunciation of Middle English according to the scheme laid out in Timothy McGee's "Singing Early Music."

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Lyrics in Old English

1. Edi beo thu hevene queen
folks froure and engles blis.
Moder unwem med and maiden clene
swich in world non other nis.
On the hit is weleth sene
of alle wimmen thu havest the pris,
mi swete leyedi her mi bene
and reu of me zif thi wille is.

2. Thu asteghe so the daiy rewe
The deleth from the deorke nicht;
Of thee sprong a leome new
That al this world haveth ilight.
Nis non maide of thine heowe
Swo fair, so schene, so rudi, swo bricht;
Swete levedi, or me thu reowe
And have merci of thin knicht.

Modern translation:

Blessed be you, heaven's queen,
People's comfort and angel's bliss,
Mother immaculate and maiden pure,
Such in world no other is.
In you it is easily seen,
Of all women you have the prize;
My sweet lady, hear my prayer
And have pity on me if you will.

You ascend like the ray of dawn
Which separates from the dark night;
From you sprang a new light
That has lit all this world.
There is no maid of your hue
So fair, so beautiful, so fresh, so bright;
Sweet lady, have compassion
And have mercy on your knight.

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS:

1. King David (with harp) and two younger musicians (with a psaltery and vielle), Jean Pucelle, c1345
2. "Edi beo thu hevene quene," original score with both parts written into a single set of staff lines, Anonymous English, c1265
3. Ruins of the Augustinian Priory in the Llanthony Valley, where there once stood a great Gothic monastery. This is the likely site whence the sole surviving manuscript of "Edi beo" originated.
4. Ivory sculpture of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus, Sainte-Chapelle, Anonymous French, c1265
5. Full page of the original musical score.