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.

Northern Lights
Cantus Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pulchra es, amica mea,
suavis et decora filia Jerusalem
Pulchra es, amica mea,
suavis et decora sicut Jerusalem,
et decora filia Jerusalem,
et decora sicut Jerusalem.
Terribilis ut castrorum
acies ordinata.

Averte oculos tuos a me,

Quia ipsi me avolare fecerunt,
amica mea.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Cantus/Tove Ramlo-Ystad's song "Northern Lights" contain a reference to a biblical verse from the Song of Solomon where the lover is praising his beloved. In the song, the lyrics "Pulchra es, amica mea, suavis et decora filia Jerusalem" translate to "You are beautiful, my love, sweet and lovely daughter of Jerusalem." The repetition of the phrase emphasizes the lover's admiration for his beloved's beauty.

The second verse shifts to a more intense and almost militaristic tone, with the line "Terribilis ut castrorum acies ordinata" meaning "Terrible as an army set in battle array." This contrast adds an interesting layer of complexity to the lyrics as it shows the duality of love, both soft and fierce.

The final line of the song, "Averte oculos tuos a me, Quia ipsi me avolare fecerunt, amica mea" translates to "Turn your eyes away from me, for they have overcome me, my love." This line brings the listener back to the vulnerability of love and the power it holds over us.

Line by Line Meaning

Pulchra es, amica mea,
You are beautiful, my love,

suavis et decora filia Jerusalem
lovely and graceful like the daughter of Jerusalem

Pulchra es, amica mea,
You are beautiful, my love,

suavis et decora sicut Jerusalem,
lovely and graceful like Jerusalem,

et decora filia Jerusalem,
and graceful like the daughter of Jerusalem,

et decora sicut Jerusalem.
and graceful like Jerusalem.

Terribilis ut castrorum
Terrible as an army,

acies ordinata.
with banners raised high.

Averte oculos tuos a me,
Turn your eyes away from me,

Quia ipsi me avolare fecerunt,
For they have made me flee,

amica mea.
My love.