Cantus \CAHN-toos\ n (latin): song, melody.

It may be simple to define the name of the nine-part male vocal ensemble, Cantus. But trying to define a single genre of music the group sings is impossible.

Performing songs from six continents, ranging from centuries-old music to the contemporary, Cantus members travel the country, introducing audiences to diverse musical selections.

Tonight at 8 p.m. members of the Minnesota-based ensemble will display their wide repertoire at Kobacker Hall in the Moore Musical Arts Center, during the Louise F. Rees Memorial Concert.

“They’re well-trained, they’re well-educated and they bring that education to a real diversity of styles – from Renaissance and Gregorian to contemporary styles and just about everything in between,” said Men’s Chorus Director Melvin Skoog.

At a rehearsal of the Men’s Chorus yesterday, Cantus members offered singing advice to the 135-member group.

“Actually, they did help a lot,” said Alan Gamble, a sophomore member of the Men’s Chorus. “We’re doing a song one of the members of Cantus wrote, and we were singing it very timidly.”

Gamble said while the song was meant to be sung quietly, it was still meant to be sung with intensity. Members of Cantus coached the Men’s Chorus to add the intensity the song needed.

Skoog commissioned Cantus member Timothy Takach to compose the song, titled “Highway Man,” two years ago. The Men’s Chorus first performed the song last November.

According to Skoog, music for college-aged choirs is hard to find, and Cantus has helped to bring more challenging music to the attention of college choirs.

Cantus commissions other composers to write music, which they later introduce to other choirs, Takach said.

“They’re bringing a variety of literature to the foreground for men’s chorus and it’s challenging literature,” Skoog said. “By hearing them in concert, and hearing their CDs, I get repertoire ideas for my group.”

A group of relatively young singers, Cantus first formed 10 years ago at St. Olaf University in Minnesota.

“It was basically just four guys that wanted to get together and sing male choral music,” said Takach, who joined the group nine years ago as a freshman in college. Today, the group has nine members and is constantly taking applications for new singers.

Since its beginning, Takach said Cantus has grown – and not just in membership. The group debuted as a professional ensemble in 2000, with a fuller, more mature sound, which has continued to get better, according to Takach.

Helping other young choral groups improve has been one of Cantus’ main functions since the beginning, according to Erick Lichte, artistic director of Cantus. The group travels to numerous colleges and high schools across the country each year.

“A lot of times we’ll be saying the same exact same things the directors have been saying for years,” Takach said. “Having it come from a different mouth sometimes drives it home a little more.”

Cantus members are proud of this year’s tour.

“This is one of our best touring programs we’ve ever put together,” Lichte said. “The variety of repertoire we do is very unique for any type of ensemble.”

Tickets for the concert are on sale at the Moore Musical Arts Center box office for $34, $26 and $18, depending on seat locations. Bursarable tickets will also be available to students at the door for $10.