cantara

Cantara is a musical composition by the Australian-British duo Dead Can Dance. It was released in 1988 as the closing track on their studio album The Serpent's Egg, issued by 4AD. The piece blends neoclassical orchestration with world music influences, and is noted for its hypnotic, ceremonial atmosphere. The vocal parts are dominated by Lisa Gerrard's wordless, ethereal singing, layered with Brendan Perry's baritone phrasing over a backdrop of choral textures, strings, and percussion with Middle Eastern tonal coloration. The arrangement builds to a sweeping, cinematic crescendo, giving Cantara a ritualistic quality that is characteristic of the album. The track has been widely cited by critics and fans as one of Dead Can Dance's defining works. The origin of the title Cantara has not been publicly explained by the band. The track has appeared on subsequent reissues and live performances as part of the group's signature repertoire.