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.
Songs of the Sea
Cantus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The moon is within me, and so is the sun
The inward and the outward are become as one sky
The Infinite and the finite are united
The hills and the sea and the earth
The days and the nights
The rising and the set-ting of the sun
The limit and the limitless
The body and the mind
The beginning, the middle, and the end
The conscious and the unconscious
Between the poles of the conscious and the unconscious
There has the mind made a swing
Thereon hang all beings and all worlds
And that swing never ceases its sway
Millions of beings are there
The sun and the moon in their courses are there
Millions of ages pass, and the swing goes on
All swing! The sky and the earth and the air and the water
O brother! He who has seen that radiance of love, he is saved
There the sky is filled with music
Day and night, the chorus of music fills the heavens
The light of the sun, the moon, and the stars shines bright
The melody of love swells forth
The lyrics of Cantus's song "Songs of the Sea" convey a deep sense of unity and interconnectedness. The opening line, "Oh my heart! Wake, oh wake!" suggests a call to awaken to the profound realization of this interconnectedness. The following lines further illustrate this theme by juxtaposing various pairs of opposites that ultimately merge into a harmonious whole.
The moon and the sun, traditionally seen as opposites, come together within the singer, symbolizing the synthesis of inner and outer experiences. Similarly, the Infinite and the finite, the hills and the sea, and other pairs such as the days and the nights, all blend as one sky. This merging extends to encompass the body and the mind, the beginning, middle, and end, and the conscious and the unconscious.
The lyrics also introduce the concept of a swing between the conscious and the unconscious. This swing represents the balance and movement of all beings and worlds in existence. It is described as an eternal sway that transcends time and encompasses countless beings and celestial bodies like the sun and the moon. The chorus of music that fills the heavens signifies the joyous celebration of this interconnectedness and the radiant love that saves those who have experienced it.
Overall, "Songs of the Sea" urges the listener to awaken their heart and recognize the inherent unity of all things, emphasizing the transformative power of love and the eternal rhythm of existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh my heart! Wake, oh wake!
My heart, awaken and become fully aware!
The moon is within me, and so is the sun
I contain both the calmness and the brightness within me
The inward and the outward are become as one sky
The inner and outer realms unite to form a harmonious whole
The Infinite and the finite are united
The boundless and the limited merge together
The hills and the sea and the earth
The majestic mountains, the vast ocean, and the solid land
The days and the nights
The passing of time, encompassing both light and darkness
The rising and the set-ting of the sun
The daily cycle of the sun's ascent and descent
The oceans and the unnumbered stars
The immense bodies of water and the countless celestial lights
The limit and the limitless
The boundaries and the boundlessness coexist
The body and the mind
The physical vessel and the mental faculties
The beginning, the middle, and the end
The entirety of existence from its origins to its conclusion
The conscious and the unconscious
The aware and the unaware aspects of being
Between the poles of the conscious and the unconscious
In the realm that lies between awareness and unawareness
There has the mind made a swing
Within this realm, the mind establishes a swinging motion
Thereon hang all beings and all worlds
Everything in existence depends on this swing for its existence
And that swing never ceases its sway
The motion of the swing never stops, continuously propelling existence
Millions of beings are there
Countless living entities exist within this realm
The sun and the moon in their courses are there
The celestial bodies of the sun and the moon move within this realm
Millions of ages pass, and the swing goes on
Eons come and go, yet the swing maintains its motion
All swing! The sky and the earth and the air and the water
Every element of the universe oscillates in harmony with the swing
O brother! He who has seen that radiance of love, he is saved
Oh, my brother! Whoever experiences the divine power of love is liberated
There the sky is filled with music
In that state, the heavens resonate with melodious sounds
Day and night, the chorus of music fills the heavens
Throughout day and night, music permeates the celestial realms
The light of the sun, the moon, and the stars shines bright
The radiance emitted by the sun, moon, and stars illuminates brightly
The melody of love swells forth
The harmonious and captivating tune of love expands and intensifies
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Paul John Rudoi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind