This young male ensemble from the great choral-producing regions of Minnesota, under the artistic direction of Erik Lichte, bring a fresh elegance and vitality to their repetoire. Cantus incorporates a wide variety of influences from across the globe. A contemporary setting of the Latin "Veni Creator Spiritus," is followed by three similar works, dating from Rennaissance or pre-Rennaissance. Ralph Vaughan Williams' "The Vagabond" is musically itinerant, restlessly drifting between tonalities. The melancholy "This Ol' Hammer," an African-American work song, has a solo lead on the verses, while the chorus echoes key phrases in assent; the arrangement manipulates the placement and number of voices throughout, adding and subtracting for variety and dynamic range. "One by One" is Zulu - sung in Zulu - with whoops and caterwauling, all very tuneful, of course. It's a jubilant finale. |
