In May of 1995 a group of nine young men from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN planned and gave its first full concert in a small intimate setting to a very receptive audience of friends, family and students. Since that very first concert, Cantus has grown into an ensemble of eleven, presenting concerts to audiences all over the United States. Gaining recognition as one of America's finest professional male vocal ensembles, Cantus enjoys a successful blend of national tours, a subscription concert series in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, engaging educational programs and innovative recordings.
In September of 2000, Cantus became a full time a cappella chamber ensemble.
Cantus champions male choral singing and encourages people of all ages to sing.
It is the hope of its members, to serve the world of choral music and singers
of all ages through continued performances, clinics, master classes and interest
sessions throughout the United States.
The Washington Post called the singers' sound "beaming and elastic"
and referred to their music as "spontaneous grace." Stereophile Magazine
said that "the sheer beauty of the unaccompanied male voices [and the]
art of [these] professional singers proved overwhelming." And The Cleveland
Plain Dealer reported: "The Minnesotans come across as down-to-earth types
who present their music with the eagerness of hometown guys singing for the
pleasure of friends and neighbors."
The Los Angeles Times said "Cantus is a splendid, relatively new male a
cappella choral group that swells the ranks of our current golden age of ensemble
singing in a distinctive way." And the Times added: "Other groups
aim for a honeyed but disembodied sound. Cantus matches that blend, but it also
revels in a heft of sound hardly imagined possible from 10 men singing without
accompaniment."
The Houston Chronicle said that a "weekend visit by Minnesota-based Cantus
was a forceful reminder that professional male vocal ensembles are thriving,"
and that Cantus produces "a robust sound inviting for its warmth, vigor
and flexibility with an obvious love for the music and their work.
 |
Ezekiel
Saw De Wheel (arr. Harry T. Burleigh) |
"Cantus" is an eleven member all-male group hailing from St. Olaf's
College in Minnesota. Their holiday disc includes many traditional favorites,
such as "Coventry Carol," "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming," and "God Rest You
Merry, Gentlemen" and an original version of "Deck the Halls" (done in 5/4,
with jazzy harmonies??, a definite departure from the style on the rest of the
recording). "Riu, Riu, Chiu," sung in Spanish, and accompanied by appropriate
percussion, accented like a russian song (ask the group about this.) The recording,
made in a church, adds atmosphere and presence to the group's own melliflous
blend; the notes "float" effortlessly as if weightless. The classically-trained
voices are well-suited to the sacred material, the sound of which conveys allegiance
to its origin centuries ago. A calming shelter from the Christmas frenzy.
| 6467 CD $15.98 |
 |
Hymnus (Sibelius) |
The 11 men who form the acclaimed Woodbury, MN-based Cantus bring
us another perfectly crafted collection of sacred choral music. "Against" includes
Sibelius' "Hymnus," Casals' "O Vos Omnes, Orff's Sunt Lacrimae Rerum, Tormis'
Varjele, Jumala, soasta, Josquin's Absalon, fili mi, Sibelius' Sydameni Laulu,"
Schubert's "Grab und Mond," Jennings' "Two Laments on Dylan Thomas," Madetoja's
"De Profundus," Thompson's "Alleluia," Debussy's "Invocation" and Barber's "Heaven-Haven."
The CD is beautifully packaged, with a small book of all the lyrics poetically
presented. One of the best male choruses in the world brings us a gift of timeless
spiritual music-music that takes us to another reality, a place of benediction,
praise and worship.
| 6761 CD $15.98 |
 |
Let
Your Voice Be Heard Dravidian Dithyramb El Yivneh Hagalil Nukapianguaq O Filii Et Finliae Dulaman What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor Songs from Matengo Folktales Mata del Anima Sola Shen Khar Venakhi K'ang-ting Love Song She Moved Through the Fair Domaredansen Loch Lomond Danny Boy Shenandoah Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder Were You There One By One Let Your Voice Be Heard |
Cantus is a professional, 11-male vocal chamber ensemble dedicated to exalting
the human spirit through the performance of innovative and engaging musical
programs. Their focus is not only on singing the finest literature of the past
but also to present new music created by group members or commissioned for the
group. People may experience them through concerts, recordings, clinics and
new musical scores. The 19 songs on "Let Your Voice" are an exciting mix: the
title tune (African Jazz, with non-vocal percussion, which is present on other
tracks),"Dravidian Dithyramb" (Indian Dance Music), "El Yivneh Hagalil" (Hebrew
Folk Song), and "What Shall We Do the Drunken Sailor" (English Sea Shanty),
share CD space with "Mata Del Anima Sola," a Venezuelan Joropo, "Shen Khar Venakhi
(Georgian Wedding Song), "K'ang-ting Love Song" (Chinese Folk Song) and "Were
You There" (African-American Spiritual). All songs feature innovative arrangements
and often breathtaking spirit and energy. A rousing, powerful CD from an amazing,
talented ensemble.
| 6806 CD $15.98 |
 |
Veni
Creator Spiritus Cantate Domino The Pauperum Refugium O Filii Et Finliae Alleluia, Amen The Vagabond Two Setings Of Rupert Brooke Oh! Love The Hill Break, Break, Break Loch Lomond Doraredansen Mouth Music Bullgine Run This Ol' Hammer In His Care-O One By One |
This young male ensemble from the great choral-producing regions of Minnesota,
under the artistic direction of Erik Lichte, bring a fresh elegance and vitality
to their repetoire. Cantus incorporates a wide variety of influences from across
the globe. A contemporary setting of the Latin "Veni Creator Spiritus," is followed
by three similar works, dating from Rennaissance or pre-Rennaissance. Ralph
Vaughan Williams' "The Vagabond" is musically itinerant, restlessly drifting
between tonalities. The melancholy "This Ol' Hammer," an African-American work
song, has a solo lead on the verses, while the chorus echoes key phrases in
assent; the arrangement manipulates the placement and number of voices throughout,
adding and subtracting for variety and dynamic range. "One by One" is Zulu -
sung in Zulu - with whoops and caterwauling, all very tuneful, of course. It's
a jubilant finale.
| 6415 CD $15.98 |
 |
Introit
for Trinity Sunday: Benedicta sit O sacrum convivium If Ye Love Me Thee We Adore Missa a cappella Kyrie Agnus Dei Our Father Ave Maria Nachtlliches Standchen Thou Didst Delight My Eyes The Turtle Dove Danny Boy Shenandoah Prayer of the Children Adoramus te |
The young men of Cantus, an eleven-member ensemble from St. Olaf College,
perform choral literature ranging from polyphony and chant to art songs and
spirituals. Therefore the Latin "O Sacrum Convivium" (De Victoria)
and Tallis" "If Ye Love Me" reside along a 20th century Gustafsson-composed
"Kyrie" and "Gloria," the dissonant intervals heralding
the epoch of modernism. "Nachtliches Standchen," a romantic lied,
a form of which Schubert was master, is included, as is Finzi's "Thou Didst
Delight My Eyes." "Shenandoah" and "Danny Boy" are
quietly lambent; the acoustics of the church in Minnesota, where this CD was
recorded, a perfect setting.
| 6468 CD $15.98 |
 |
Veni,
Veni Emmanuel O Magnum Mysterium Riu, Riu Chiu Gabriels' Message Salvation Is Created Alleluia Hail Mary Lo, How A Rose E're Blooming O Holy Child Coventry Carol Suo Gan I Wonder As I Wander God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen I Saw Three Ships Deck The Halls Silent Night |
"Cantus" is an eleven member all-male group hailing from St. Olaf's College
in Minnesota. Their holiday disc includes many traditional favorites, such as
"Coventry Carol," "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming," and "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen"
and an original version of "Deck the Halls" (done in 5/4, with jazzy harmonies??,
a definite departure from the style on the rest of the recording). "Riu, Riu,
Chiu," sung in Spanish, and accompanied by appropriate percussion, accented
like a russian song (ask the group about this.) The recording, made in a church,
adds atmosphere and presence to the group's own melliflous blend; the notes
"float" effortlessly as if weightless. The classically-trained voices are well-suited
to the sacred material, the sound of which conveys allegiance to its origin
centuries ago. A calming shelter from the Christmas frenzy."
| 6467 CD $15.98 |
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