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.

Stille
Cantus Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Det lyser i stille grender
Av tindrende ljos i kveld
Og tusene barne hender
Mot himmelen ljosa held

Og glade med song dei helsar
Sin broder i himmelhall
Som kom og vart heimsens Frelsar

Som barn i ein vesal stall

Der låg han med høy til pute
Og gret på si ringe seng
Med englane song der ute
På Betlehems aude eng

Der song dei for første gongen
Ved natt over Davids by
Den evige himmelsongen
Som alltid er ung og ny

Den songen som atter tonar
Med jubel kvar julenatt

Om barnet Guds son vår sonnar
Som døden for evig natt

Overall Meaning

The song Det lyser i stille grender (It shines in quiet settlements) by Cantus / Tove Ramlo-Ystad is a beautiful Christmas hymn that speaks of the joy and wonder of the Christmas season. The lyrics describe the quiet settlements illuminated by the sparkling lights on this special evening. The hands of thousands of children hold the shining stars towards the sky, filling the air with light.

The song continues with the joyous greetings to their brother in the heavenly home who came to be the Savior of the world, born in a humble manger. There, He lay on a bed of hay and wept in his meager cradle as the angels sang on the lonely fields of Bethlehem. Their voices blended into the eternal song of heaven that has been ringing throughout eternity.

This song is an ode to the eternal song of heaven that resounds every Christmas night to celebrate the birth of the Christ child who came to save us from eternal darkness. It inspires in us awe and wonder at the profound love of God for us and the great sacrifice made by his son to redeem us from the sway of death.

Line by Line Meaning

Det lyser i stille grender
There is a bright light shining in the quiet villages

Av tindrende ljos i kveld
From the sparkling light tonight

Og tusene barne hender
And thousands of children's hands

Mot himmelen ljosa held
Holding up towards the bright heavens

Og glade med song dei helsar
And joyfully they greet with song

Sin broder i himmelhall
Their brother in the halls of heaven

Som kom og vart heimsens Frelsar
Who came and became the savior of the world

Som barn i ein vesal stall
As a child in a humble stable

Der låg han med høy til pute
He lay there with hay as his pillow

Og gret på si ringe seng
Crying in his humble bed

Med englane song der ute
With the angels singing outside