Conductors, concerts, choristersNancy Singlacantala women's choir, Nancy Singla, john rutter, christmas choral concert, seasonal concert, choral music toronto, toronto choral music, toronto choral singing, toronto choral concert, poulencComment

Dancing Day

Conductors, concerts, choristersNancy Singlacantala women's choir, Nancy Singla, john rutter, christmas choral concert, seasonal concert, choral music toronto, toronto choral music, toronto choral singing, toronto choral concert, poulencComment

One of the wonderful pleasures I have as a choral conductor is planning Christmas music in July. I’ll be honest, it did feel horrendously weird for the first couple of years to have carols zinging through my head as I rode my bike on a flaming hot sunny day. However, what wonderful music it is! There is a beautiful coziness embedded in the music of Christmas. Somehow the music has taken on an inherent feel of optimism and has a harmonic language that immediately speaks “Christmas” to me. If this is the one hardship I must endure as a conductor, I will accept my sentence. Who wouldn’t love to have “Tomorrow Shall be my Dancing Day” from John Rutter’s Dancing Day or the gorgeous, classic French carol “Les anges dans nos campagnes (Angels we have heard on high)” stuck in your head? Come and hear us sing these memorable melodies this December as well as a world premiere by Toronto composer, Bev Lewis. It will be sure to be a wonderful way to start this season of dancing days and cozy nights.

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The full program includes:

Dancing Day -John Rutter

Dancing Day is a cycle of 6 Christmas pieces scored for treble voices and harp. John Rutter has a knack for creating gorgeous arrangements of classic carols, and this cycle is no different. This cycle also allows us to show off the gorgeous solo voices that sing in Cantala.

Angels Carol-John Rutter

A piece that has simple vocal lines that can sing their way into your mind for days. Scored for treble duet and harp.

Hodie Christie Natus Es-Kelly-Marie Murphy

Canadian composer Kelly-Marie Murphy has created a very rhythmic, scintillating piece that keeps Cantala and conductor on their toes. Scored for treble voices and harp.

Les anges des nos campagne-Trad. harm. Bernat Vivancos

Vivancos has taken a traditional French carol and added modern harmonies and vocal lines. A fresh take on a classic tune. Scored for unaccompanied four part treble chorus.

Alleluia-David L McIntyre

A sister piece to his well known “Ave Maria”, Canadian composer McIntyre has written a choral piece in his signature minimalist style on the word “Alleluia”.

Ave Verum Corpus-Francis Poulenc

Originally meant to be performed in a dark gothic cathedral, the Ave Verum Corpus has a haunting-like shadow in its harmony and vocal writing. Difficult, dissonant, yet tonal, Poulenc has challenged us to sing and listen carefully to his chromatic details.

Coventry Carol-Bev Lewis.

An world premiere by Toronto composer Bev Lewis. Traditional text set to a new melody and accompanied by oboe. It is an eerie lullaby that sends us off into the dark, cold night….

Tickets are available from our website. Reception to follow.

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Upcoming 2018 Fall/winter repertoire

We made it. 10 years have passed and Cantala is brimming with passionate choral singers, long lasting friendships and excitement for the year ahead. Here is the upcoming 2018 Fall/Winter repertoire. 

choristers, Conductors, concertsNancy Singlaa ceremony of carols, benjamin britten, stephen smith, cantala women's choir, choral singing, toronto choral singing, toronto choral scene, audition, fall 2018, repertoire, cantala repertoire, nancy singlaComment
Conductors, choristersNancy Singlanancy singla, benjamin britten, seasonal concert, christmas choral concert, cantala womens choir, toronto choral scene, toronto women's choir, choral singing, Choral music, choral bloggingComment

A Ceremony of Carols

The Cantala Women’s Choir is excited to perform next month their favourite seasonal work, the gorgeous, masterful choral piece, A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten.

Conductors, choristersNancy Singlanancy singla, benjamin britten, seasonal concert, christmas choral concert, cantala womens choir, toronto choral scene, toronto women's choir, choral singing, Choral music, choral bloggingComment
choristers, concerts, ConductorsNancy Singlacantala women's choir, toronto choral concerts, toronto choral scene, toronto choral singing, nancy singla, forest hill united church, toronto, toronto women's choir, francis poulenc, spring concert toronto, Spring concert, cantala choir, cantala womens choirComment

Petites Voix: 5 reasons its a Choral Gem

This past January I took out my score of Francis Poulenc’s Petite Voix,: 5 Choeurs faciles pour 3 voix d’enfants to prep for rehearsal. I quickly started feeling regret for picking such a dissonant, difficult piece. Would we survive? Surprise! This is the story of how the piece entered our hearts and dug a bore for life.

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choristers, concerts, Conductors, composerNancy Singlacantala women's choir, toronto women's choir, toronto choir, toronto choirs, choral singing, toronto, nancy singla, john rutter, dancing day, david schotzko, david simon, roy thompson hall, choral musicComment

The Beginning of our 12th Season

The beginning of our 12th Season at Cantala has begun! If you haven’t auditioned yet for Cantala please do be in touch. We are always interested in meeting new and talented singers and musicians. Between a Fall weekend retreat to Haliburton to Banff in February and Roy Thompson Hall in May-it will be an exhilarating year in Cantala. Come and sing with us!

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concerts, choristers, alum, composer, ConductorsNancy Singlaerica goodman, nancy singla, cantala women's choir, toronto choral scene, toronto choir, choral music, women's choir, toronto women's choir, john rutter, dancing day, toronto choral concertComment

Highlights of our Seasonal Concert

After hearing the Cantala Women’s Choir sing their hearts out last saturday night to a crowd of very appreciative concert goers, we are looking forward to sharing with you our highlights.

concerts, choristers, alum, composer, ConductorsNancy Singlaerica goodman, nancy singla, cantala women's choir, toronto choral scene, toronto choir, choral music, women's choir, toronto women's choir, john rutter, dancing day, toronto choral concertComment