Cantus
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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 many periods and genres, including Gregorian chant, Renaissance motets, 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, A True Heart is Waiting by Edie Hill, and Journey to Sekhet-Aanru: Four Ancient Egyptian Magic Rituals by Mike McFerron commissioned through the American Composers Forum. 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 a track on Sugarfoot Music's benefit CD "For New Orleans". All profits go to displaced New Orleans musicians.
