There are at least three ensembles which use the name Cantus: 1) A 30-piece… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least three ensembles which use the name Cantus: 1) A 30-piece female choir from Trondheim, Norway; 2) A nine person vocal ensemble from Minneapolis; 3) An ensemble from Lithuania.

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.

Lær meg å kjenne dine veie
Cantus Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Lær meg å kjenne dine veie
Og gå dem trøstig skritt for skritt
Jeg vet at hva jeg fikk i eie
Er borget gods og alt er ditt
Men vil din sterke hånd meg lede
Jeg aldri feil på målet ser
Og for hvert håp som dør her nede
Får jeg et håp i himlen mer

Lær meg å kjenne dine tanker
Og øves i å tenke dem
Og når i angst mitt hjerte banker
Da må du kalle motet frem
Når jeg har tenkt meg trett til døden
Så si hva du har tenkt o Gud
Da kan jeg se at morgenrøden
Bak tvil og vånde veller ut
Men lær meg fremfor alt å kjenne
Din grenseløse kjærlighet
Den som kan tusen stjerner tenne
Når lykkens sol for meg går ned
Den tørrer tåren som den skapte
Og leger såret som den slo

Dens vei går gjennom det vi tapte
Den gir oss mere enn den tok

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Cantus's song "Lær meg å kjenne dine veie" speak of a deep desire to know and understand God's ways. The singer asks to be taught to walk confidently step by step on God's paths. They acknowledge that everything they have is ultimately God's and express trust in God's guiding hand, believing that they will never lose sight of their purpose. In the face of earthly disappointments, the singer finds hope in the promise of a heavenly reward.

The lyrics also point to a longing to know God's thoughts and to align one's own thinking with God's. In times of fear and anxiety, the singer asks God to bring forth courage. Even when feeling overwhelmed and exhausted by life's challenges, the singer turns to God and asks to know His plans. By doing so, they gain the ability to see the light of a new day, breaking through doubt and suffering.

Line by Line Meaning

Lær meg å kjenne dine veie
Teach me to know your ways

Og gå dem trøstig skritt for skritt
And walk them confidently step by step

Jeg vet at hva jeg fikk i eie
I know that what I possess

Er borget gods og alt er ditt
Is guaranteed property and everything belongs to you

Men vil din sterke hånd meg lede
But if your strong hand leads me

Jeg aldri feil på målet ser
I will never lose sight of the target

Og for hvert håp som dør her nede
And for every hope that dies down here

Får jeg et håp i himlen mer
I receive a hope in heaven again

Lær meg å kjenne dine tanker
Teach me to know your thoughts

Og øves i å tenke dem
And practice thinking them

Og når i angst mitt hjerte banker
And when my heart beats in anxiety