Comfort and Joy: Volume One
Christmas Reviews.com
Carol Swanson

Talk about first class! With only ten members, Cantus fills the room with flawless classical choral music. This group is the Holy Grail, the Sistine Chapel, the Mount Olympus of male a cappella ensembles. Listening to music this magnificent is truly a goose-bump-raising, religious experience, even for sworn atheists! Cantus has two recent holiday offerings, Comfort and Joy: Volume One (2004) and Comfort and Joy: Volume Two (2005); both are exceptional releases for the season.

I have an admitted soft spot for great a cappella singing. The human voice is such a magnificent instrument; hearing it blend and bend without artificial adornment is a special aural experience. Cantus is absolutely superb on every level, beginning with the box. This excellent CD comes in a tri-fold case elegantly garbed in a velvety burgundy sleeve with metallic silver lettering. The packaging is exquisite--the gift-giving possibilities are virtually endless! One small gripe--the sparkling silver liner notes (which helpfully provide the lyrics and background information) are visually impressive, but a tad difficult to read.

Cantus employs a vocal philosophy that encourages "engagement" in all senses of the word, wanting its members to sing with full emotional, mental and physical engagement. This approach negates the bland or blended choral singing where all voices seamlessly become one; instead, these men project like multiple fine instruments of unique texture and color, moving through harmonies to create the most sophisticated and moving musical palettes. Splendid!

The 16 tracks of Comfort and Joy: Volume One reflect largely serious classical numbers; including five that are sung in Latin (ironically, Cantus presents two spectacular treatments of "O Magnum Mysterium," but not the Victoria version I love most). The album also contains several lighter numbers, including the impressive African-American spiritual "Mary Had a Baby" and the sweet Welsh lullaby "Suo Gân." Everyone will recognize (and embrace) at least four traditional holiday pieces ("I Wonder as I Wander" with Brian Arreola's excellent solo; an exquisite "What Child Is This?"; the mesmerizing "Coventry Carol" (my personal favorite); and a gracefully flowing "Silent Night"). The overall atmosphere is relatively introspective and subdued--this is the thoughtful "comfort" of the Christmas season. Exuberant holiday "joy" follows in the 2005 Cantus release, Volume Two.

Cantus is the sort of group that makes me stand up and applaud! Give this amazing a cappella your attention this holiday season. Comfort and Joy: Volume One will give nothing but comfort and joy to those who value excellent male ensembles singing with absolute "engagement." Outstanding!