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| Title: Comfort and Joy: Volume Two |
MP3, WMA, MPC, OGG, M4A, FLAC, WAV |
| Artist: Cantus |
| (c): (C) 2005 Cantus Recordings |
| (p): (P) 2005 Cantus Recordings |
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2005-08-19 |
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Male vocal ensemble sings Christmas music from around the world.
Cantus, America's newest full-time male vocal ensemble, proudly presents part two of their groundbreaking Christmas offering - Comfort and Joy. Conceived as a whole, Comfort and Joy tells the Christmas story from two different perspectives and two separate attitudes; the music of volume one embodies the feeling of Christmas comfort, while volume two's repertoire focuses on Yuletide joy. Comfort and Joy: Volume 1 was released in October, 2004.
To tell the Christmas story in song, Comfort and Joy: Volume 2 highlights Cantus' diverse repertoire and focuses on music from around the world. Standout tracks include Babatunde Olatunji's "Betelehemu," Ariel Ramirez' "Los Reyes Magos" and Erick Lichte's 5/4 tour de force jazz arrangement of "Deck the Halls."
HISTORY
Gaining recognition as one of America's finest professional male vocal ensembles, Cantus enjoys a vigorous schedule of national tours, subscription concerts in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, several innovative residencies and outreach programs, and recording. The Washington Post called the singers' sound "beaming and elastic" and referred to their music-making as "spontaneous grace." Stereophile Magazine declared: "the sheer beauty of the unaccompanied male voices (and the) art of (these) professional singers proved overwhelming." 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."
Cantus' repertoire spans all periods and genres, including contemporary works, art songs, folk music, spirituals, and pop. The ensemble has commissioned several new works, including "Two Laments on Dylan Thomas" by Kenneth Jennings, "Songs from Matengo Folk Tales" by Peter Hamlin, "Journey to Sekhet-Aanru: Four Ancient Egyptian Magic Rituals" by Mike McFerron commissioned through the American Composers Forum as well as their newest commission "A True Heart is Waiting" by Twin Cities composer Edie Hill. In addition to these commissions, much of Cantus' music is composed and arranged by its members.
Cantus' coast-to-coast tours have included performances throughout the United States. The 2004-05 season included dates in Nashville, Austin, San Francisco, St. Louis and many other U.S. cities. In the summer of 2003 Cantus made its European debut at France's Polyfolia Festival. Cantus made its debut with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra in December 2001 in a program titled "Cantus and Carols," and now appears annually in what has now become a holiday tradition for both Cantus and the SPCO. Cantus has performed hundreds of concerts across North America. The ensemble has performed at the American Choral Directors' Association's national and regional conventions and numerous choral festivals. In the summer of 2002 the ensemble sang to great acclaim at the Oregon Bach Festival and at the Sixth World Symposium on Choral Music in Minneapolis.
In accordance with its founding mission statement, Cantus is an active proponent of music education, encouraging people of all ages - especially young men - to sing. Its members are frequent clinicians at festivals, schools and universities throughout the country. Presently, Cantus is the resident artist at St. John's University in Collegeville, MN.
Of the ensemble's first two recordings, Let Your Voice Be Heard (2001), and ...against the dying of the light (2002), American Record Guide declared, "male chorus fans are in for rare and enchanting treats here. Watch for this unique and charismatic group - It is just the sort of un-stuffy and engaging ensemble this nation needs more of." Cantus' "Music for Men's Voices" choral series is published by the Neil A. Kjos Music Company.
REVIEWS FOR CANTUS
"In its Los Angeles debut Saturday in UCLA's Schoenberg Hall, Cantus sounded 50 voices strong. Wonderful."
Los Angeles Times
"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."
Cleveland Plain Dealer
"These twentysomethings obviously love what they do, and they do it well. Their genre-crossing musical phrasings were consistently polished and synchronized. The effect was an engaging sense of intimacy and spontaneity, as in a private house concert."
Sabine Kortals, Denver Post |
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