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.

O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Cantus Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by

Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight

O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And peace to all the earth!

How silently, the wondrous gift is giv’n!

O holy child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin, and enter in
Be born in us today

We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell

O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Immanuel!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" convey the tranquil atmosphere and spiritual significance of the town where Jesus Christ was born. The opening lines set the scene, describing Bethlehem as a quiet and peaceful place, where the stars quietly watch over the town as it sleeps. These lines capture the stillness and divine presence that characterized the night of Jesus' birth.

The following lines emphasize the profound impact of this humble town. They speak of a light that shines brightly in the dark streets, representing the eternal Light of Jesus. Bethlehem becomes the meeting place of the hopes and fears of all generations, as it becomes the birthplace of the Savior. The lyrics here convey a sense of anticipation, acknowledging that on this sacred night, everything that people have hoped for and feared is fulfilled in Bethlehem.

The second verse introduces the concept of the morning stars proclaiming the holy birth and singing praises to God, announcing peace to the entire earth. This refers to the celestial beings rejoicing at the arrival of Jesus. The following lines express the awe and wonder of this wondrous gift given to humanity, highlighting the quietness and sacredness surrounding the birth of Jesus.

The final verse is a prayer to the holy child of Bethlehem, asking him to descend upon us and cleanse us from sin. It speaks of inviting Jesus into our lives and allowing him to be born within us. The lyrics also acknowledge the announcement of the Christmas angels, who bring the joyous news of Jesus' birth, and request Jesus to come and dwell among us as our Lord and Immanuel, meaning "God with us."

Overall, the lyrics of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" beautifully capture the essence of the Christmas story, portraying Bethlehem as the quiet and holy birthplace of Jesus Christ, and expressing the longing for Jesus to be present in our lives.

Line by Line Meaning

O little town of Bethlehem
You, small and humble town of Bethlehem

How still we see thee lie!
How peacefully we observe your stillness!

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
While you are in a deep and undisturbed slumber

The silent stars go by
The stars quietly move across the sky

Yet in thy dark streets shineth
However, there is a shining light in your dark streets

The everlasting Light
That light is the eternal Light

The hopes and fears of all the years
Both the aspirations and anxieties of countless years

Are met in thee tonight
Are gathered together in you, tonight

O morning stars, together
Oh, stars of the morning, in unison

Proclaim the holy birth
Announce the sacred and miraculous birth

And praises sing to God the King
And sing praises to the King, God Himself