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.
Eatnemen Vuelie
Cantus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Na na na heyana
Hahiyaha naha
Naheya heya na yanuwa
Hanahe yunuwana
Na na na heyana
Naheya heya na yanuwa
Hanahe yunuwana
Na na na heyana
Hahiyaha naha
Naheya heya na yanuwa
Hanahe yunuwana
Na na na heyana
Hahiyaha naha
Naheya heya na yanuwa
Hanahe yunuwana (ha ha ya)
Nuwa nu
Nuwa heya nu
Nuwa nu
Nuwa heya nu
Nuwa nu
Nuwa nu
Na na na heyana
Hahiyaha naha
Naheya heya na yanuwa
Hanahe yunuwana
The lyrics of Cantus's song "Eatnemen Vuelie" in English translate to "Song of the Earth". The song is a traditional Sami yoik or "joik" which is a form of traditional song in indigenous Sami culture found in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. This particular yoik is performed by Cantus, a Norwegian male vocal ensemble. The song begins with a series of vocables (meaningless syllables) that create a sentimental atmosphere. These vocables can be interpreted as an expression of gratitude to nature and the earth. The repetition of these syllables throughout the song creates a sense of unity and rhythm that reflects the Sami people's close relationship with the land.
The song's main melody and rhythm evoke the sounds and nature of the Sami people, particularly Southwest Sami people. The yoik is performed in a pentatonic scale, solidifying the song's connection to nature. The vocal range is limited to a narrow set of tones, often with a repetitive melody, designed to convey the essence of the subject being yoiked. The song has a unique sound and communicates a sense of calmness, devotion, and respect for the Earth. The combination of harmony, melody, and rhythm fashioned by the vocal ensemble in a unique and harmonious way is truly breathtaking.
Line by Line Meaning
Na na na heyana
We come together in harmony
Hahiyaha naha
To sing a song of gratitude
Naheya heya na yanuwa
For the beauty of this world
Hanahe yunuwana
And all the people in it
Nuwa nu
Listen, listen
Nuwa heya nu
Hear the music
Nuwa nu
Listen, listen
Nuwa heya nu
Feel it deep within
Nuwa nu
Listen, listen
Nuwa nu
We are one
Na na na heyana
We sing with joy
Hahiyaha naha
Our hearts are full
Naheya heya na yanuwa
With love and gratitude
Hanahe yunuwana
For all that we have in this life
Writer(s): tove ramlo-ystad
Contributed by Isabella J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bella-bee
I used to sing in a choir and I remember one exercise we used to do which I found fascinating. We had very varied vowel sounds, different accents, and had to learn to standardise them.
The exercise takes you through all the vowels in turn, although not in alphabetical order, but shows you how we use our whole mouth.
So
Make the broadest cheesiest eeeeeeee you can, exaggerate your face. That is one extreme.
The other is uuuuuuuuu (rhyme with Boo)with lips pursed into a forward tight little circle.
And notice the shape of the tongue (raised or flat). That has an effect. Now glide from one sound to the other without moving your lips. Experiment. Try doing eeee with your lips in the uuu shape and you may manage a German ü sound.
Then glid from U to eee and back again, play around with it.
Then, for the vowels practice, go from Uuu to aaah(wide open mouth) then widen to eee. Notice that eeee is a horizontal shape and UUU could be thought of as vertical. And Aaah is in the middle. Now glide from eeee to uuu through aaah. And back again
You might start to hear harmonics, which is fun, another note on top.
You will find any vowel you want, certainly any English or latinate vowel somewhere in there
Hope that helps
And to say that choir practice is a great leveller, doing some very strange exercises for voice, body and mental work too, and we don’t mind having a go, so don’t feel embarrassed to pull faces to do this.
The harmonics are great fun by the way.
@benjamintan9996
Lyrics:
x4
Na na na heyana
Hahiyaha naha
Naheya heya na yanuwa
Anhahe yunuwana (ha ha ya)
na a-a na-a na
na a-a na-a na
ha na ja na a na a na
na na na hei-a na
ha-ni ja-a na-a
na hei-a hei-a na ja no-a
ha na hei o no a na
Deilig er jorden,
(Lovely is the Earth!)
prektig er Guds himmel,
(Glorious is God's heaven!)
skjønn er sjelenes pilgrimsgang.
(Wonderous are the souls pilgrimage!)
Gjennom de fagre
(Through the great)
riker på jorden
(kingdoms on earth)
går vi til paradis med sang.
(we go to Paradise with song.)
Na na na heyana
Hahiyaha naha
Naheya heya na yanuwa
Anhahe yunuwana
Na na na heyana
Hahiyaha naha
Naheya heya na yanuwa
Anhahe yunuwana
Na na na heyana
Hahiyaha naha
Naheya heya na yanuwa
Anhahe yunuwana
@kmasucci
Ignoring Frozen for a moment, this is a beautiful piece of choir music on its own.
@Emper0rH0rde
Krista Masucci Frozen just put this on the map. It was actually written back in 1996.
@kmasucci
I know, but on it's own, it's gorgeous!
@graceblack1057
We're singing this for choir.
@kmasucci
***** Precisely :P
@user-tk4gr9zo7t
Kristoff Bjorgman Sami-Norwegian actually bahaha. The film's setting is based off of Bergen Norway. A city surrounded by fjords.
@115Kramer
Watched Frozen 4 times in the theater and never got tired of it... and being in a choir for almost all of my youth days... this particular song is one of biggest reasons why I keep watching it!
@kurtsiecolferites2160
Six. ;3 And I'm STILL not tired of it. It's insane how good it is.
@115Kramer
I agree with you mate! And I envy you so much for being able watch it six times... It's already out of the theaters in my place but I'm definitely going to get the Blu ray
@vesdan13
Blu ray will be released on march while digital copy will be on feb 25