alum, choristers, composer, concerts, ConductorsNancy Singlacantala choir, cantala women's choir, nancy singla, treble choir, toronto choral scene, choral concert, the lost words, robert macfarlane, asal iranmehr

Lost Words: Concert In Review

alum, choristers, composer, concerts, ConductorsNancy Singlacantala choir, cantala women's choir, nancy singla, treble choir, toronto choral scene, choral concert, the lost words, robert macfarlane, asal iranmehr

Is it true that in most cases the music inspires the text, or the text inspires the music?

Poster credit: Rachel Shaw

In 99% of cases, the text inspires the music, not the other way around.

I am happy to report that the music compositions in The Lost Words was conceived with the text in mind. Actually, The Lost words is a unique work in this regard. Robert MacFarlane, the well-known British poet, was inspired to write 30 acrostic poems after finding out that the most recent edition of the Junior Oxford Dictionary had taken out words such as Ivy, Dandelion and Willow. These words were replaced with blogspot and hashtag. MacFarlane feared that children were losing touch with the natural world. He wrote these poems to keep these words alive in the mouths of children.

Back here in Canada we have choral director Morna Edmondson to thank for this large 40 minute choral work. She is in the last year of being the Artistic Director of Elektra in Vancouver and has recently received the Order of Canada. Ms. Edmondson commissioned 10 different living Canadian composers to write words to MacFarlane’s texts. In my opinion, these pieces share a snapshot of what choral music sounds like today. They are dissonant, rhythmic, colourful, simple- yet complex and full of texture.

Taking a work with colourful, imaginative text and interpreting its music is one of my life’s deepest passions. It was incredibly thrilling to take Cantala through the many demanding moments of creativity with this work and we were thrilled to present what we had, thus far, unearthed during our past December 7th concert at Forest Hill United in Toronto.

We are pleased to present many of these Canadian works on our NYC Carnegie debut in April 2025.

We will present more of the work in years to come.

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
alum, choristers, composer, concerts, ConductorsNancy Singlachoiristers, cantala choir, cantala women's choir, toronto choral singing, toronto choral scene, Nancy Singla, choral singing, choral sound, sacred musicComment

New Beginnings

Cantala Choir and I had our first in person rehearsal in two years in February 2022 and for so many reasons, it feels like a new beginning. For one, as I re enter the world of choral music and choral programming I feel I have many new ideas and perspectives. So consider this: what about changing “hundred of years-old sacred text” to a sacred text that is relevant to our human society today? Radical idea? Read on.

alum, choristers, composer, concerts, ConductorsNancy Singlachoiristers, cantala choir, cantala women's choir, toronto choral singing, toronto choral scene, Nancy Singla, choral singing, choral sound, sacred musicComment
Conductors, concerts, composer, choristers, alumNancy Singlachoral singing toronto, choral singing concert, toronto choral concert, organ and choral series roy thomson hall, roy tomsom hall, TOronto singing choir, gender neutral choir, treble voices, cantala choir, nancy singla, Toronto choral concertsComment

Cantala ends its 15th Season

Have you ever swirled around in a big ball gown on a concert stage that is all yours? We did this past May at Roy Thomson Hall. We can report back that it is a fantastic experience and highly recommend it.

Conductors, concerts, composer, choristers, alumNancy Singlachoral singing toronto, choral singing concert, toronto choral concert, organ and choral series roy thomson hall, roy tomsom hall, TOronto singing choir, gender neutral choir, treble voices, cantala choir, nancy singla, Toronto choral concertsComment
alum, choristers, composer, concerts, ConductorsNancy Singlacantala choir, cantala womens choir, toronto singing, toronto choral singing, christmas choral concert, nancy singla, seasonal concert toronto, cypress music, canadian composersComment

The Magic of the Natural World: Seasonal Concert Announcement

Come and rediscover the magic of the natural world with Cantala during our winter seasonal concert, Saturday December 7th at 7pm. It will feature parts from a larger work called Lost words: A Spell book, which features one poet (Robert Macfarlane), ten composers (many of our Canadian favorites!) and twenty choral compositions.

alum, choristers, composer, concerts, ConductorsNancy Singlacantala choir, cantala womens choir, toronto singing, toronto choral singing, christmas choral concert, nancy singla, seasonal concert toronto, cypress music, canadian composersComment