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.
SHENANDOAH
Cantus Lyrics
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And hear your rolling river
O Shenandoah, I long to see you
Way, we're bound away
Across the wide Missouri
I long to see your smiling valley
I long to see your smiling valley
Way, We're bound away
Across the wide Missouri
Tis sev'n long years, since last I see you
And hear your rolling river
Tis sev'n long years, since last I see you
Way, we're bound away,
Across the wide Missouri"
The lyrics to Cantus's song, "Shenandoah" evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing for a place far away. The singer is lamenting the fact that they have not seen this beloved destination in seven years and they yearn to see it again. The rolling river is a symbol of continuity and serves as a reminder to the singer of the permanence of the place they are longing for. The repetition of the lyrics, "Way, we're bound away, Across the wide Missouri" emphasizes the distance between the singer and their desired location.
The second verse continues this theme of longing and nostalgia as the singer expresses their desire to see the "smiling valley" once more. The use of the word "smiling" conveys a sense of warmth and happiness associated with this place. The singer is not only longing for the physical location but also the emotional connection that they have with the place.
Line by Line Meaning
O Shenandoah, I long to see you
Oh Shenandoah, I deeply desire to lay my eyes upon your beauty.
And hear your rolling river
I yearn to hear the soothing sound of your flowing river.
Way, we're bound away
Our journey is set, and we are leaving this place behind.
Across the wide Missouri
Our path leads us across the vast Missouri River.
I long to see your smiling valley
The image of your picturesque valley, filled with happiness, is etched in my memory.
Tis sev'n long years, since last I see you
It has been seven long years since I last laid eyes on you.
And hear your rolling river
In that time, the sound of your river has been absent from my life.
Way, we're bound away
But now, I must embark on a new journey.
Across the wide Missouri
A journey that will take me across the mighty Missouri River once again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TRADITIONAL, ROBIN JEFFREY, TIM LAYCOCK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind