The all-faculty ensemble, Cantiamo!, will take the stage at 8 p.m. Thursday in Bryan Hall Theatre to perform “Animal Magnetism: A Musical Tribute to the Animal Kingdom.”

Cantiamo!, Italian for “let’s sing,” is an ensemble comprised of professors in the WSU School of Music’s vocal department. The members created the group upon deciding that they wanted to perform together more frequently, said Brian Carter, a music instructor at WSU.

“We do bits and pieces all over the place, but it’s not often we all get together,” he said.

The group members decided after last year’s performance of Mozart pieces that they next wanted to focus on music dedicated to animals, Carter said.

“Not only are there so many options for animal songs, there’s also so many styles,” he said.

The concert will take advantage of that and showcase different eras of music ranging from the madrigal compositions of the middle ages, through the romantic period and into contemporary times.

“We were trying to think of a theme to span the ages, and composers have been writing about animals forever,” said Dean Luethi, an Assistant Professor of Music.

Part of what makes animals such a popular topic for composers is how easily they can be turned into metaphors and allegories, said Lori Wiest, professor of music and director of choral activities at WSU.

“Love, politics – it can all use animals as symbols,” she said.

A dying silver swan in one song comments on the extinction of the madrigals, she said. In another piece, a grasshopper is based off a smooth-talking ladies’ man it is rumored the composer knew.

Pierre Passereau’s “Il est Bel et Bon” ends with wives imitating their husbands who follow them around the yard like chickens, Wiest said.

“They’re gossiping and arguing with each other, and that really comes across in the way the music is composed,” Luethi said.

Many of the pieces were composed for a full choir, which presents some challenges for just five members, but it leads to different textures and colors coming through during the songs, Carter said.

“Being in a smaller ensemble just means you really got to know your stuff,” he said.

“Animal Magnetism” is free for WSU students to attend. General admission is $10 and $5 for non-WSU students and those 60 years or older.

All proceeds from the performance will go toward the WSU School of Music Scholarship.