Cantus Recordings

While You Are Alive (2008)

"Cantus sounds terrific in this program of contemporary fare where several of the works have been chosen to capture the sumptuous lyricism these singers summon up so routinely. There's a lot here you're not going to want to miss." - American Record Guide

“While You Are Alive” is an outstanding collection of music, a worthy contribution to the library of classical male choral repertoire. The album celebrates life through a gorgeous marriage of poetry and music. We include a new commission from Steven Sametz, who sets the poetry of Walt Whitman, a choral favorite from Eric Whitacre, a new nine-part work for Cantus by Edie Hill, a world premiere recording by Timothy C. Takach, a delightful piece by Veljo Tormis featuring SPCO flutist Julia Bograd-Kogan, and “The Turning,” the musical result of composer Maura Bosch’s work with Cantus, The American Composer’s Forum and the Tubman Family Alliance.

$20.00 Regular price
Save 25% - Sale price $15.00!
(includes shipping)

Reviews of While You Are Alive

American Record Guide
Fanfare Magazine
Stereophile Magazine (2)

Go back to the store

Download mp3s:

All mp3 files have been ripped at a rate of 190 kbps to ensure a high sound quality in this compressed format. We encourage those listeners who are looking for the highest possible sound quality to purchase one of our compact discs, recorded in 24-bit high resolution.

If any problem should arise, please email takach<at>cantusonline.org with concerns.

Click on a song title to listen to a sample.

While You Are Alive (album)	Cantus	$9.99
1. Lux Aurumque	Eric Whitacre	$0.99
2. A Lullaby	Paul Nelson	$0.99
A Sound Like This	Edie Hill	$5.94
3. A Sound Like This: I. An Invocation
4. A Sound Like This: II. He Draws the Strings Tight
5. A Sound Like This: III. Clay Jug
6. A Sound Like This: IV. Interlude: Thinkers, Listen!
7. A Sound Like This: V. While You Are Alive
8. A Sound Like This: VI. A Sound Like This
We Two	Steven Sametz	$4.95
9. We Two: I. Earth, My Likeness
10. We Two: II. I Am He That Aches With Amorous Love
11. We Two: III. Here the Frailest Leaves of Me
12. We Two: IV. Not Heat Flames Up and Consumes
13. We Two: V. We Two, How Long We Were Fool'd
14. Kolm mul oli kaunist sona	Veljo Tormis	$0.99
The Turning	Maura Bosch	$0.99
15. The Turning: I. Some things you don't know about me
16. The Turning: II. Then and now
17. The Turning: III. If I could say
18. Things I Didn't Know I Loved	Timothy C. Takach	$0.99
19. Encounter	Peteris Vasks	$0.99
20. There is Sweet Music	Daniel E. Gawthrop	$0.99