Well, how do I speak about it being inspired by a 12th century plainsong? Not too many cool rock musicians are listening to 12th century sacred music. But there is a group out of Norway, that’s the woman, who sings on the record. Trio Mediaeval.

I’ve always loved the simplicity of early music and Gregorian chants and plainsong. There is just this austere simplicity that I find [bad word]  So I was listening to this ‘Trio Mediaeval’ record and I basically wrote a bunch of string arrangements around their acapella recording and then went to the woman who sang it and said, 'Oh, is it possible for you to re-sing it to this arrangement that I’ve written'.

I think she was eight and a half month pregnant. So she has this little studio in her garage in Norway, she recorded the vocals, handed the recording off to her husband and then went and gave birth.

— Moby

___________

(vocals by Anna Maria Friman of Trio Mediæval)

[This song is based on the Catholic Latin hymn Ave Maris Stella. However, the vocals were manipulated in such a way that the words are actually unintelligible. Below is the text of the hymn and its translation.] 

Latin

Ave maris stella,
Dei Mater alma
Atque semper virgo
Felix caeli porta

Sumens illud ave
Gabrielis ore
Funda nos in pace
Mutans Evae nomen

Solve vincla reis
Profer lumen caecis
Mala nostra pelle
Bona cuncta posce

Monstra te esse matrem
Sumat per te preces
Qui pro nobis natus
Tulit esse tuus

Virgo singularis
Inter omnes mitis
Nos culpis solutos
Mites fac et castos

Vitam praesta puram
Iter para tutum
Ut videntes Jesum
Semper collaetemur

Sit laus Deo Patri
Summo Christo decus
Spiritui sancto
Tribus honor unus
Amen.

~

English Translation

Hail, Star of the sea,
Great Mother of God
and always a Virgin,
joyous gate of Heaven.

By [bad word] that "Hail"
from Gabriel's mouth,
grant us peace,
changing Eve's fame.

Undo wicked people's bad deeds,
give light to the blind,
drive away our pains,
give us every good.

Show Thyself to be a Mother,
let this prayer be [bad word] through Thee
by He who was born for us
and made Himself Thy Son.

Holiest Virgin unique,
among the humblest,
forgive our trespasses,
and make us humble and chaste.

Give us a pure life,
guard our paths,
let us see Jesus,
always joyful.

All praise be to God the Father,
to the Highest Christ, the Lord,
and to the Holy Ghost,
only honor to the Trinity.
Amen.