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.
Simple Gifts
Cantus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.
The lyrics to Cantus's song Simple Gifts talks about the gift of simplicity, freedom, and contentment. The song emphasizes the idea that true joy and happiness are not found in material possessions but in the simplicity of life. The first line of the song, "Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free," suggests that simplicity is not just a state of mind but a gift that brings freedom. The second line, "'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be," indicates that simplicity allows us to live in the present and appreciate what we have.
The third and fourth lines, "And when we find ourselves in the place just right, 'Twill be in the valley of love and delight," suggest that simplicity leads to a place of love and happiness. The image of a "valley" connotes a peaceful and harmonious place where one can find tranquility. The last two stanzas of the song suggest that true simplicity is gained by letting go of pride and ego. It encourages us to be humble and to continue to grow and change.
Overall, the song communicates a message of hope and optimism. It suggests that by embracing simplicity, one can find true happiness and freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free
It is a gift to be uncomplicated and unrestricted.
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
It is a gift to be in the right place.
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
When we arrive in the right place,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
We will be surrounded by love and joy.
When true simplicity is gained,
When we achieve true simplicity,
To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed,
We shouldn't be embarrassed to be humble.
To turn, turn will be our delight,
We'll find joy in the process of change,
Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.
Through continuous changes, we will end up where we belong.
Contributed by Ella Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bob Knab
thankyou - happy blessings