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 Anúna is an Irish choral group. In 1987 Dublin composer Michael McGlynn founded An Uaithne,[1] a name which describes the three ancient types of Celtic music, Suantraí (lullaby), Geantraí (happy song) and Goltraí (lament). One of the group's stated aims is to explore and redefine this music.[2] An Uaithne became Anúna in 1991. Most of the material they perform is written or arranged specifically for the group by Michael McGlynn. He also has reconstructed and arranged a substantial amount of early Irish music, which has been recorded by the group. McGlynn's choral arrangements are written specifically for their combination of classically trained singers and untrained voices. Anúna do not work with a conductor in performance, and move throughout the venue at different points in concert.[2] Their standard line-up is twelve to fourteen singers.[2]
[edit] FormationMcGlynn formed the choir Anúna in 1987, with their earliest concerts featuring medieval Irish and European music, contemporary choral pieces by Irish composers and Irish folk arrangements. He has stated "My interest in traditional song stemmed from my schooldays in Ring College in Dungarvan, and I also felt a need to explore and communicate my enthusiasm for medieval music, most particularly Irish medieval music, to the general public. The eclectic repertoire that characterises the music of Anúna was born in this way"[3]. The genesis of the choir's vocal sound derives from a number of different sources including Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares, although he has stated that Anúna are not an expression of their culture in the same way as the Bulgarian choir, because when creating Anúna there was no point in him pretending that there has been a culture of part-singing in Ireland[4]. [edit] RepertoireAnúna's music covers material that encompasses a thousand years of Irish historical texts and reconstructions of medieval Irish music. McGlynn is responsible for these, creating these reconstructions which include the 12th century pieces "Dicant Nunc" and "Cormacus Scripsit", both of which come from Irish manuscripts. Other reconstructions include the "Miserere Miseris" from the Dublin Troper and "Quem Queritis" from The Dublin Play. [edit] CareerAnúna became associated with the Riverdance phenomenon from 1994 until 1996,[1] giving the first performance of the piece at the Eurovision Song Contest 1994. They sang the opening choral section entitled "Cloudsong" with a solo by soprano Katie McMahon[5] Anúna won an Irish National Entertainment Award[6] for Classical music in 1994, and were nominated for a Classical Brit Award in 2000.[7] Many of the singers who received initial training and international exposure through Anúna have gone on to achieve international prominence, including Eimear Quinn who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1996, and no less than four of the soloists who have been featured on Celtic Woman (Órla Fallon, Méav Ní Mhaolchatha, Lynn Hilary and Deirdre Shannon). Their album Sensation released in April 2006 is an eclectic collection, with settings by McGlynn of texts by Cardinal Henry Newman, Arthur Rimbaud and Hildegard von Bingen. Anúna have recorded ten albums and been signed to many record labels including Decca, Universal, Polygram, Philips and Koch International. The CD Anúna: Celtic Origins became the number one CD in the World Music category according to Nielsen Soundscan in August 2007.[8] The choir have appeared twice at the World Sacred Music Festival in Morocco in 1998 and 2002, performed at the first ever Irish Prom at the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall in London[9] in 1999 and have toured twenty countries since 1993. In January 2007 Anúna recorded a series of live performances in Cleveland which have been broadcast extensively on PBS across the USA. The group undertook a two month tour of the USA in Autumn 2007. November 2008 saw the release in the USA of "Christmas Memories", a CD and DVD release coupled with PBS Broadcasts nationally in November and December. The album entered the Billboard World Music Charts at number 6 on First week of release and has spent 10 weeks in the Billboard World Music top 20 albums. In June 2009, Anúna released in a CD and DVD, "Sanctus" and "Invocations of Ireland". "Sanctus" features four previously released tracks that have been remastered and in the case of one track, "Nobilis Humilis", have had parts re-recorded and added to the original song. Also featured will be McGlynn's "Agnus Dei", Miserere mei, Deus by Gregorio Allegri and Crucifixus by Antonio Lotti. "Invocations of Ireland" is a 56 minute DVD filmed throughout Ireland, featuring the music of Anúna sung in the Irish landscape. In July 2009 Anúna gave the first performance of "Behind the Closed Eye" in the Republic of Ireland at Dublin's National Concert Hall with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. [edit] Members[edit] John McGlynnJohn McGlynn is Michael's identical twin brother. He is a guitarist and singer-songwriter who released his solo album called Songs For A Fallen Angel in 2000. His song "If All She Has Is You" is not only in this album, but also in the group's Celtic Origins album and concert DVD. It has been covered by Celtic Woman soloist Lynn Hilary on her debut solo album. [edit] Ian KingIan King is a British song writer working in the English Folk music genre. His debut album, Panic Grass and Fever Few gained him four-star reviews in the Guardian and Observer newspapers in the U.K. and he was featured on the 2009 thirtieth anniversary cover of the influential fRoots magazine. Ian was a member of Anúna from 1996 to 1997. [edit] Julie FeeneyJulie Feeney has become successful as a solo artist. Her self-produced debut album, 13 songs, won her the Choice Music Prize[10] in 2006 and she subsequently signed with major label, Sony BMG. She released her second self-produced album pages in Ireland in 2009. She was part of Anúna from 1997 to 2001. [edit] Méav Ní MhaolchathaMéav Ní Mhaolchatha is a soprano recording artist specializing in the traditional music of her homeland. She was one of the original soloists in the musical ensemble Celtic Woman. Between 1994 and 1998 Méav was a member of Anúna.[11] She has recorded numerous solos with the choir, including "Midnight", "The Lass of Glenshee", "Geantraí", "When I was in My Prime" and "The Mermaid". She appears on the albums Omnis, Deep Dead Blue and Behind the Closed Eye. [edit] Lynn HilaryLynn Hilary is one of the soloists in the musical ensemble Celtic Woman. Between 2000 and 2007 Lynn was a member of Anúna.[11] She has recorded numerous solos with the choir, including "Midnight", "Codhlaím go Suan", "The Last Rose", "The Road of Passage" and "Annaghdown". She appears on the albums Christmas Songs, Invocation, Sensation and Behind the Closed Eye. [edit] Eimear QuinnEimear Quinn is a soprano, and won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1996. She was part of Anúna from 1995 to 1996[11]. She has recorded numerous solos with the choir, including "The Mermaid", "Diwanit Bugale", "The Green Laurel", "Gaudete" and "Salve Rex Gloriae". She appears on the albums "Omnis" and "Deep Dead Blue". [edit] Discography[edit] Albums and DVD releasesThe group has released several albums and DVDs:[12]
+ Both albums amalgamated into a single remastered release in 2003. ++ Indicates compilation [edit] References
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