When the Earth Stands Still

"When the Earth Stands Still." Music and Words by Don MacDonald. Copyright 2016 by Galaxy Music Corporation, a division of ECS Publishing. https://ecspublishing.com/ All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Flucht

This performance of "Flucht" by Franz Schubert features Cantus members: Samuel Green, Sam Kreidenweis, Alexander Nishibun, and Paul Scholtz. It was recorded live at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN on September 19, 2019 as part of Cantus' show, "One Giant Leap!"

Calme Des Nuits

Cantus performs Camille Saint-Saëns' "Calme Des Nuits" in December 2018 at the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas in St. Paul, MN. Video credit: Nate Haustein and Flight Creative Media

Lux Aurumque

Nine-member male vocal ensemble Cantus sings Lux Aurumque by Eric Whitacre. This footage was captured on Sunday, November 8 at the Our Saviour's Atonement Lutheran Church as part of Carnegie Hall's Neighborhood Concert series.

NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Is there some kind of weird vocal vortex in Minnesota? The state turns out so many excellent choral groups — at the school, church and professional levels — that it can arguably be dubbed the choral center of the U.S. The members of the male vocal ensemble called Cantus, who huddled around Bob Boilen's desk to sing for us, hail from that vortex — specifically Minneapolis-St. Paul.

The 23rd Psalm (dedicated to my mother)

Cantus sings Bobby McFerrin's beautiful work "The 23rd Psalm (dedicated to my mother)"Cantus sings Bobby McFerr

Kenneth Jennings' settings of two Dylan Thomas poems 'Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night,' and And Death Shall Have No Dominion' are both beautiful arrangements. 'Loch Lomond' is a Scottish folk song that dates back to the Jacobite Rebellion. Care has been taken to preserve the authenticity of the language in this arrangement, with the help of a ipa chart in the performance notes of this chart. With an energetic, strong opening and a more lyric, gentle section in the middle, 'Alleluia' provides an overall sense of the joy we experience while praising god. 'Let the Bullgine Tun,' a vigorous, humorous, traditional sea chantey is guaranteed to delight both singers and audiences.

Songlist: Do Not Go Gentle Into The Night, Let the Bullgine Run, Loch Lomond, Alleluia, Amen, And Death Shall Have No Dominion

A unique collection of spirituals and folk songs arranged by the talented ensemble Cantus for male unaccompanied voices. Recommended

Songlist: Danny Boy, Barbara Allen, She Moved Through the Fair, Deep River, Heav'n, Heav'n

For years, public radio listeners around the country have celebrated "Thanksgiving with Cantus" with American Public Media. This fall, Cantus releases a recording of beloved songs celebrating the joy of the holiday. A Harvest Home includes original arrangements of favorite hymns, American folk tunes as well as new compositions by Ysaye Barnwell, Byron Adams and pieces by Edvard Grieg, Felix Mendelssohn and Randall Thompson.

"Fall is the welcoming of Winter, it is a time of winding down and being grateful. Cantus has caught this promise from across the globe and distilled it into a seasonal offering that smells of apples and roast turkey. Please pass the cider..."

Songlist: For the Beauty of the Earth , The Pasture , America the Beautiful, Would You Harbor Me? , My Journey Yours, Come, Ye Thankful People, Come, We Gather Together , Holy Manna, Food, Glorious Food, Tyteberet, Trinklied, Fiddle Tune, Turkey in the Straw, Simple Gifts, How Can I Keep From Singing?, A Thankful Heart, Eventide

Cantus : Against The Dying Of The Light   

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.

Songlist: Hymnus, O Vos Omnes, Sunt Lacrimae Rerum, Varjele, Jumala, Soasta, Absalon, fili mi, Sydameni laulu, Grab und Mond, Two Laments on Dylan Thomas, De Profundis, Alleluia, Invocation, Heaven-Haven (A Nun Takes the Veil)

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.

Songlist: 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

Cantus : Let Your Voice Be Heard   

Cantus is a professional, 12-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.

Songlist: Let Your Voice Be Heard, Dravidian Dithyramb, El Yivneh Hagalil, Nukapianguaq, 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 : Live Vol. 1   

Hailing from Northfield MN's St Olaf College, 10-man a cappella group Cantus was founded by a few college friends in 1995, and since then has won recognition across the globe as one of America's finest all-male vocal ensembles. Boasting 13 (with "Live, Volume 1") excellent albums (and a pair of songbook collections) on Singers.com, and performing at more than 400 venues across the planet, Cantus' powerful, beautiful sound has gained them happy fans and much critical acclaim. "Live Volume 1" was recorded at the First Lutheran Church in Columbia Heights, MN in 2004, and contains 18 selections, some favorites are Michael Head's "How Sweet the Moonlight Sleeps," Francis Poulenc's "Quatre Petit Prieres de Saint Francois d'Assise," three "Psalms of Ascent" by Chester Alives, Benjamin Britten's "Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard," Nick Cave's "The Mercy Seat," five "Songs of the Sea" by C. Villiers Stanford," and a pair from "The Art of the Ground Round" by P.D.Q. Bach, "Loving is as Easy" and "Please Kind Sir." Several songs are lightly accompanied by piano or guitar. Settle back and experience the excitement of this wonderful, spirited live performance by versatile Cantus!

Songlist: How Sweet the Moonlight Sleeps, Part I: Quatre Petit Prieres de Saint Francois d'Assise, Part II: Quatre Petit Prieres de Saint Francois d'Assise, Part III: Quatre Petit Prieres de Saint Francois d'Assise, Part IV: Quatre Petit Prieres de Saint Francois d'Assise, Unto the Lord in my distresse: Psalms of Ascent, I to the hills lift up mine eyes: Psalms of Ascent, O all yee servants of the Lord: Psalms of Ascent, Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard, The Mercy Seat, Drake's Drum: Songs of the Sea, Outward Bound: Songs of the Sea, Devon, O Devon in wind and rain: Songs of the Sea, Homeward Bound: Songs of the Sea, The Old Superb: Songs of the Sea, Loving is as Easy: The Art of the Ground Round, Please, Kind Sir: The Art of the Ground Round, Dalvi duoddar luohti- Talvitunturin joikha

Minnesota-based 11-strong all-male ensemble Cantus, since their founding at St. Olaf College in 1995 have had great fun performing around Minnesota, the country and the world, and recording excellent CDs ("There Lies The Home " is their 10th). The authentic folk songs and sea chantys in "Home" are popular choices in the group's repertoire. Some favorites are "Break, Break, Break," "Songs of the Sea," "Jonah's Song," "Shenandoah," "Lowlands," arranged by Alice Parker and Robert Shaw," Gordon Lightfoot's "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" and Sting's "Valparaiso." Beautiful liner notes, some light accompaniment. Powerful and evocative music!

Songlist: Prelude (Before Dawn), Sea Fever, Break, Break, Break, Songs of the Sea (Op. 91), Jonah's Song, Shenandoa, Lowlands, Muistse mere laulud, Incantatio maris aestuosi, Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (, Valparaiso, A True Heart is Haiting

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.

Songlist: Veni Creator Spiritus, Cantate Domino, The Pauperum Refugium, O Filii Et Finliae, Alleluia, Amen, The Vagabond, Two Settings 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

"While You Are Alive" is an outstanding collection of music, a worthy contribution to the library of classical male choral repertoire. The album celebrates life through a gorgeous marriage of poetry and music. Included a new commission from Steven Sametz, who sets the poetry of Walt Whitman, a choral favorite from Eric Whitacre, a new nine-part work for Cantus by Edie Hill, a world premiere recording by Timothy C. Takach, a delightful piece by Veljo Tormis featuring SPCO flutist Julia Bograd-Kogan, and "The Turning," the musical result of composer Maura Bosch's work with Cantus, The American Composer's Forum and the Tubman Family Alliance.

Songlist: Lux Aurumque, A Lullaby, A Sound Like This, We Two, Kolm mul oli kaunist sona, The Turning, Things I Didn't Know I Loved, Encounter, There is Sweet Music Here