1. The Norwegian choral ensemble Cantus was formed in 1986 by a group of young women who wanted to take control of their own performances. The group, consisting of 30 amateur singers, is based in Tronheim and led by Tove Ramlo-Ystad, who joined as a singer and has become the group's director. Cantus typically performs arrangement of classical and contempary works, and has crossed over into jazz, folk, and pop music.
The group credits its participation in choral competitions with sharpening its focus and raising the quality of its performances.
Cantus has become an international sensation because of its inclusion on the soundtracks of both Disney films Frozen I and II, featuring the tracks Vuelie and Reindeer Circle, written by Frode Fjellheim and Christophe Beck.
2. Originally founded at St. Olaf College, Cantus is now a nine person male vocal ensemble based in Minneapolis. They sing a wide variety of vocal music, and have performed in some innovative theater pieces as well.
3. Cantus from Lithuania, making some mixture of Christian and Lithuanian folk music.
Danny Boy
Cantus Lyrics
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From glen to glen, and down the mountain side.
The summer's gone, and all the roses falling,
It's you, it's you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow,
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow,
It's I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow,
But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying,
If I am dead, as dead I well may be,
You'll come and find the place where I am lying,
And kneel and say an Ave there for me.
And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me,
And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be,
For you will bend and tell me that you love me,
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!
The song "Danny Boy" is a bittersweet tune about a man saying goodbye to his dear friend Danny. The melancholic melody is accompanied by lyrics that touch upon themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. The song opens with the singer acknowledging the sound of pipes calling to Danny, which is a metaphorical way of saying that it's time for him to depart. The next line describes the setting in which this farewell is taking place, as they stand by a glen and watch the roses falling. The singer expresses that it is Danny who must leave, while they will stay behind.
The tone of the song shifts slightly in the second verse, as the singer expresses hope for Danny's return. They invite him to come back during the summer or when the valley is blanketed in snow, assuring him that they will be waiting for him in sunshine or shadow. The final stanza of the song takes on a more poignant note as the singer imagines a future in which he is no longer living. They urge Danny to visit their grave, to kneel and say a prayer for them. In a hauntingly beautiful conclusion, they imagine themselves sleeping peacefully in death until Danny comes to join them.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
Hey Danny, can't you hear the bagpipes playing in the distance?
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side.
The pipes are echoing through the valleys and over the hills.
The summer's gone, and all the roses falling,
Summer is over and the flowers are dying.
It's you, it's you must go and I must bide.
You have to leave, but I have to stay behind.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow,
When summer returns and the meadows are green again, come back to me.
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow,
Or in the quiet winter when the valley is covered in snow.
It's I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow,
I'll be here for you, no matter the weather, no matter the circumstances.
Oh, Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so!
Danny, I love you deeply and passionately.
But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying,
When you return and the flowers are dead.
If I am dead, as dead I well may be,
If I've died, and it's possible that I may have.
You'll come and find the place where I am lying,
Find the spot where I'm buried.
And kneel and say an Ave there for me.
Kneel down and say a prayer for my soul.
And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me,
Even though you're walking lightly, I'll hear you.
And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be,
Because of your love, my resting place will be warmer and more comforting.
For you will bend and tell me that you love me,
You'll lean down and whisper that you love me.
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!
And I'll be at peace, sleeping until you join me there.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CHARLIE HUNTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind