Anúna
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Anúna is an Irish choral group that came to world prominence through its involvement with the Riverdance phenomenon in the mid 1990s. In 1987 Dublin composer Michael McGlynn founded An Uaithne, a name which describes the three ancient types of Celtic music, Suantraí (lullaby), Geantraí (happy song) and Goltraí (lament). One of the group's primary aims was to explore and redefine this music, and also to perform McGlynn's own original works and his arrangements of medieval and traditional Irish music.
An Uaithne became Anúna in 1991, and although closely associated with the Riverdance phenomenon were only part of the show for just over a year. Their work is difficult to categorise, thus ensuring a cult status rather than acceptance by the classical or Celtic music world. The unique vocal sound developed by McGlynn is shown to heart-stopping effect on the magnificent "Wind on Sea" or the now choral standard "Dúlamán". Their spiritual music displays the group at its finest with exceptional stand-outs such as "Nobilis Humilis" and "O Viridissima".
The group has a particular and unusual vocal sound brought about by the combination of trained and untrained voices, and its image is extremely evocative, combining costumed singers with movement and candles. The group won a National Entertainment Award for Classical music in 1994, and were nominated for a Classical Brit Award in 2000.
In recent years Anúna have begun to change direction, distancing themselves further from the so-called "Celtic" fashion of music. Their album "Sensation" released in April 2006, marked a significant departure from previous albums, with no overly Celtic influences.
In January 2007 Anúna recorded a series of live performances in the USA which will be broadcast on PBS in the late Summer/Autumn of this year throughout the USA. A DVD and CD release will follow shortly after the broadcast.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- 1993 - ANÚNA (re-recorded 2005)
- 1994 - Invocation (re-recorded 2002)
- 1995 - Omnis (Irish edition)+
- 1996 - Omnis (entirely re-recorded international version of the 1995 release)+
- 1996 - Deep Dead Blue (remaster 2004)
- 1997 - Behind the Closed Eye (remaster 2003)
- 2000 - Cynara
- 2002 - Winter Songs++
- 2003 - Essential Anúna (UK only release on Universal Records)++
- 2005 - The Best of Anúna (European edition, different track listing to Essential)++
- 2005 - Essential Anúna (US only on Koch Records)++
- 2006 - Sensation
+ Both albums amalgamated into a single remastered release in 2003.
++ Indicates compilation
