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Talk about first class! With only ten members, Cantus fills the room with flawless classical choral music. This group is the Holy Grail, the Sistine Chapel, the Mount Olympus of male a cappella ensembles. Listening to music this magnificent is truly a goose-bump-raising, religious experience, even for sworn atheists! Cantus has two recent holiday offerings, Comfort and Joy: Volume One (2004) and Comfort and Joy: Volume Two (2005); both are exceptional releases for the season.

I have an admitted soft spot for great a cappella singing. The human voice is such a magnificent instrument; hearing it blend and bend without artificial adornment is a special aural experience. Cantus is absolutely superb on every level, beginning with the box. This excellent CD comes in a tri-fold case elegantly garbed in a velvety burgundy sleeve with metallic silver lettering. The packaging is exquisite--the gift-giving possibilities are virtually endless! One small gripe--the sparkling silver liner notes (which helpfully provide the lyrics and background information) are visually impressive, but a tad difficult to read.

Cantus employs a vocal philosophy that encourages "engagement" in all senses of the word, wanting its members to sing with full emotional, mental and physical engagement. This approach negates the bland or blended choral singing where all voices seamlessly become one; instead, these men project like multiple fine instruments of unique texture and color, moving through harmonies to create the most sophisticated and moving musical palettes. Splendid!

The 16 tracks of Comfort and Joy: Volume One reflect largely serious classical numbers; including five that are sung in Latin (ironically, Cantus presents two spectacular treatments of "O Magnum Mysterium," but not the Victoria version I love most). The album also contains several lighter numbers, including the impressive African-American spiritual "Mary Had a Baby" and the sweet Welsh lullaby "Suo Gân." Everyone will recognize (and embrace) at least four traditional holiday pieces ("I Wonder as I Wander" with Brian Arreola's excellent solo; an exquisite "What Child Is This?"; the mesmerizing "Coventry Carol" (my personal favorite); and a gracefully flowing "Silent Night"). The overall atmosphere is relatively introspective and subdued--this is the thoughtful "comfort" of the Christmas season. Exuberant holiday "joy" follows in the 2005 Cantus release, Volume Two.

Cantus is the sort of group that makes me stand up and applaud! Give this amazing a cappella your attention this holiday season. Comfort and Joy: Volume One will give nothing but comfort and joy to those who value excellent male ensembles singing with absolute "engagement." Outstanding!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)

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From the liner notes:

Tenors:
Brian Arreola
Bradley Cramer-Erbes
Michael Hanawalt
Albert Jordan
Peter Zvanovec

Baritones:
Kelvin Chan
Alan Dunbar
Adam Reinwald

Basses:
Tom McNichols
Tim Takach

Cantus is a full-time professional male vocal chamber ensemble based in the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN, and is dedicated to exalting the human spirit through the performance of innovative and engaging musical programs. The ensemble seeks not only to sing the finest literature of the past but also to present new music either created by its members or commissioned for the group. Cantus reaches its audience through concerts, recordings, clinics and by making new musical scores available. In addition to performing, Cantus champions male choral singing and encourages people of all ages to sing.

Producer: Erick Lichte.
Engineering and digital editing: John Atkinson.
Package design and layout: Tim Takach.

From the Web site:

Cantus was founded in the fall of 1995 when a few college friends gathered on the campus of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Their objective was to spend time away from the rigors of college life doing something they enjoyed: singing. During the next two years the ensemble grew to 12 members and began performing at venues on campus. Since then, Cantus has performed more than 300 concerts across the nation during the past seven years, including appearances at AmericaFest, the Lied Center in Lawrence, Kansas, UCLA Live, the University of Chicago Presents, and many conventions of the American Choral Director's Association. In September 2000, Cantus established itself as a full-time nonprofit arts organization based in Minnesota.

Cantus

Comfort and Joy: Volume One

Artist link

Track List