Anúna

ANÚNA
Background information
Origin Ireland
Genres Choral, World Music, Classical
Years active 1987–present
Labels Danú
Website Anúna.ie
Members Michael McGlynn Artistic Director
Past members Hozier
Julie Feeney
Lynn Hilary
Méav Ní Mhaolchatha
Éabha McMahon
Eimear Quinn

Anúna is an Irish choral ensemble. Founded in 1987 by Michael McGlynn under the name An Uaithne,[1] the group has recorded 17 albums, and achieved a high level of international success.[2] Almost all of their repertoire is composed or arranged by McGlynn.[2]

History

An Uaithne 1987 to 1991

McGlynn formed the choir An Uaithne 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] McGlynn re-set and rearranged historical texts and reconstructions of medieval Irish music. These included the 12th century pieces "Dicant Nunc" and "Cormacus Scripsit", both of which come from Irish manuscripts and featured in the repertoire of An Uaithne. Other reconstructions including "Miserere Miseris" from the Dublin Troper and "Quem Queritis" from The Dublin Play continue to feature in the repertoire of Anúna. McGlynn has said "I think that one of the purposes of Anúna has been to open the door of obscurity to some of the many medieval pieces that we've recorded".[4]

An Uaithne featured a number of traditional music arrangements done by McGlynn as part of their repertoire. He has stated "One of the misapprehensions about my music is that I am not actually concerned with saving Irish traditional music; I am not a traditionalist. The only exposure I had [to traditional Irish song] was during my year at Coláiste na Rinne in Dún Garbhán. The songs that I set are not from a specific collection; they are more impressions of the songs I remembered."[5] McGlynn also created new compositions that could be perceived as arrangements of Irish songs but were, in fact, new melodies composed to traditional texts. These works are not arrangements and they became a feature of An Uaithne's repertoire and continue to be part of the Anúna canon. McGlynn has stated "People just assume that I have just found a “living” version. In fact I have done what has made solo traditional music so viable: I have created a new version. I take the songs and reinterpret them in a new way. My priority is always to create a choral version that works." [5]

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 his pretending that there had been a culture of part-singing in Ireland.[6] McGlynn has stated : "What I have done is to try to always create an accessibility using the concept of fragility in the voice to allow the audience to access music that otherwise they might find overtly and harmonically complex or technically demanding to listen to." [5]

Anúna 1992 to 1996

In 1991, An Uaithne officially became Anúna. Once a group of classically trained singers, Anúna morphed into a choir of less trained, but still gifted, singers who could produce the earthy, raw tone that McGlynn was seeking. "This is the ‘Anúna’ sound – powerful and fragile, immediate and human. When I developed it, it was almost as a protest against the artificial nature of choral groups I had been part of, where singers appeared to sing for themselves, never as a genuine unit and never for the audience."[7] In 1993 they released their disc "ANÚNA", a sixteen-track CD followed in 1994 by the album "Invocation".[8] Both albums were licensed by the Irish label Celtic Heartbeat and released in 1995 [9] The album "Anúna" achieved a modest Billboard World Music chart placing at number 11 in 1995.[8] Both albums were licensed by the Irish label Celtic Heartbeat and released in 1995.

Anúna became associated with Riverdance from 1994 until 1996.[1] They gave the first performance of the piece at the Eurovision Song Contest, spending 18 weeks at number 1 in the Irish single's chart and reaching number 9 in the U.K. Singles Chart.[10] They featured on the CD and DVD "Riverdance" and "Riverdance: the Show". They sang the opening choral section entitled "Cloudsong" with a solo by soprano Katie McMahon[11] Anúna won an Irish National Entertainment Award[12] for Classical music in 1994. In 1995 they released "Omnis" and in 1996 "Deep Dead Blue". The latter album gained an international release on the Gimell/Polygram label in 1999.[13] and was nominated for a Classical Brit Award in 2000.[14] The group left Riverdance in 1996.[13] Anúna soprano Eimear Quinn won the Eurovision Song Contest in the same year in Oslo.[15]

Anúna 1997 to 2010

In 1997 Anúna released the CD "Behind the Closed Eye", an orchestral collaboration with the Ulster Orchestra, Northern Ireland's leading symphony orchestra.[16] The choir appeared at the World Sacred Music Festival in Morocco in 1998 returning in 2002.[17] In 1999 Anúna performed at the first ever Irish Prom at the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall in London.[18] 2000 saw the release of "Cynara" followed by "Winter Songs" (U.S. Release title "Christmas Songs") in 2002. The same year the group appeared at the "Proms in the Park" in Belfast, an open-air concert featuring The Ulster Orchestra in the grounds of Belfast's City Hall.[19]

Their album Sensation, released in April 2006, was an eclectic collection, with settings by McGlynn of texts by Cardinal Henry Newman, Arthur Rimbaud and Hildegard von Bingen. The title track featured a spoken recitation of the Rimbaud poem "Sensation" by the Breton singer Gilles Servat. 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. The album "Anúna: Celtic Origins" was released in the same year. It was the number one selling album in the World Music category of Nielsen Soundscan in August of that year.[20] 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 spent 10 weeks in the Billboard World Music top 20 albums.[21] The single "Ding Dong Merrily on High" reached number 26 on the Billboard "Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks" chart in December 2008.[22]

In June 2009, Anúna released the CD "Sanctus" and DVD "Invocations of Ireland". "Sanctus" featured 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 are McGlynn's "Agnus Dei", Miserere mei, Deus by Gregorio Allegri and Crucifixus by Antonio Lotti."Invocations of Ireland" was a 56-minute DVD filmed throughout Ireland by Michael McGlynn, and featured the music of Anúna sung in the Irish landscape. The DVD was released on Columbia in Japan and was broadcast extensively on the Ovation Channel in Australia and New Zealand.[23]

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. The group performed again with the orchestra in July 2010, with Finnish violinist Linda Lampenius.[24] The programme included a number of new pieces and arrangements including the nine-minute McGlynn fantasia based on the songs of Thomas Moore "The Last Rose".

Anúna 2011 to date

In June 2010, Anúna collaborated on a new CD and DVD project with The Wiggles scheduled for release in 2011.[25] In September 2010, Anúna recorded an arrangement by Michael McGlynn of "Away in a Manger" with ex-Celtic Woman soloist Órla Fallon for her Christmas PBS special, which also featured David Archuleta and another ex-Anúna and Celtic Woman soloist Méav Ní Mhaolchatha. The special was filmed in Dublin, Ireland. No fewer than five of the soloists who have been featured on Celtic Woman since 2005 (Órla Fallon, Méav Ní Mhaolchatha, Lynn Hilary, Eabha McMahon and Deirdre Shannon) have been members of Anúna.

On 27–29 January 2011, Anúna joined Irish musical pioneers Clannad for three concerts at Dublin's Christ Church Cathedral for the Donegal group's fortieth anniversary celebrations. They collaborated on five tracks, "Dúlamán", "Caislean Óir", "Theme from Harry's Game", "In a Lifetime" and "I Will Find You". Anúna also performed a version of "Media Vita" as they came onstage, integrating musical elements of "Caislean Óir".[26]

Anúna made their Chinese debut in June 2011. Cities visited included Chengdu, Wuhan and Hangzhou. In Beijing they performed at the Beijing Poly Theater and in Shanghai at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center.[27] In July 2011 the National Concert Hall in Dublin presented the first Anúna International Summer School. The event took place between 5 and 9 July, and featured a team of international facilitators including Matthew Oltman, then musical director of Chanticleer.[28] In September their album "Christmas Memories" débuted at 95 in The Billboard 200.[29]

To finish the year, Anúna visited Japan, a trip which included concerts and workshops in Tokyo, Niigata, Hyogo, Kagoshima, Sasebo and Shiga. This tour also included a high-profile visit to the area affected by the tsunami of 2011 and Fukushima.[30] In April 2012 Anúna participated in the premiere of Philip Hammond's "Requiem for the Lost Souls of the Titanic" at St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast.[31]

In June 2012 Anúna released their new album Illumination, a fifteen track CD [32] and in May featured on the soundtrack to the video game Diablo III. Blizzard Entertainment's audio director, Russell Brower says "Working somewhat against conventional expectations, Hell is a beautiful and seductive sound, provided by Dublin’s uniquely astounding choral group ANÚNA".[33] As of February 2014 the game has sold 15 million copies across all platforms.[34] In China in October the choir gave a workshop at the Shanghai Conservatory and in November they hosted a series of public choral workshop events across the Netherlands. 2013 marks the first tour of Canada for the group, and included a workshop series.

Musical style

For more details on this topic, see Michael McGlynn.

The original name of the group, An Uaithne, "is the collective description for the three ancient forms of Irish music[...] the Goltraí (song of lament), Geantraí (song of joy) and Suantraí (the lullaby)".[35] McGlynn has reconstructed and arranged a substantial amount of early and medieval Irish music, as well as writing original pieces. Anúna do not work with a conductor in performance, and move throughout the venue at different points in concert. Their standard line-up is twelve to fourteen singers.[2]

According to Stephen Eddins at AllMusic, "with the intent that it would unite the discipline of classical choral singing with the unaffected spontaneity typical of Irish folk singing."[36] McGlynn supports this in his blog:

I can now hear two types of singer on the recording. There are large, plummy voices favoured by the classically trained singers I had gathered around me for An Uaithne, but now I can hear the “others” – early music singers, traditional singers and untrained singers. There is a fight going on. The performances are rough, but hugely energetic. Many of the more classical singers or choral groupies are stuck to the inadequately learned sheet music, while the new people are singing without music and without affectation.[37]

Notable Performances

Anúna have performed all over the world including Poland, Morocco, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Chile, Argentina, The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Spain, France, the U.K., China, the U.S.A. and Germany.[38]

Selected current members

John McGlynn is a tenor with Anúna and an Irish singer-songwriter. He is also Michael McGlynn's identical twin brother. His distinctive guitar style features on many of Anúna's albums. Originally an architect by trade, he currently acts as a director of the choir, touring in that capacity throughout Europe and the USA. He released his solo album Songs For A Fallen Angel in 2000 and has formed a trio entitled Sweet June. His arrangements and original songs appear on a number of Anúna releases. "If All She Has Is You" appears on the Celtic Origins album and concert DVD and has been covered by Celtic Woman soloist Lynn Hilary on her debut solo album. Other arrangements and original pieces include "The Fisher King", "Buachaill ón Éirne", "Siúil a Rúin" and "O Come All Ye Faithful". He features as a soloist on the albums Christmas Songs, Invocation, Anúna, Deep Dead Blue, Christmas Memories, Celtic Origins and Cynara. He appears as a soloist on the DVDs Invocations of Ireland and Celtic Origins and Christmas Memories.

Lucy Champion is an English singer. She currently holds the position Education Co-ordinator with Anúna and is a featured soprano soloist with the choir. She appears as a soloist on the albums Christmas Songs, Invocation, Sensation, Anúna, Sanctus, Cynara, Deep Dead Blue, Christmas Memories, Celtic Origins and Behind the Closed Eye. She appears as a soloist on the DVDs Invocations of Ireland and Celtic Origins. She was Concerts and Events Manager for The Ulster Orchestra in Belfast, Administrator and Education Manager for the Wren Orchestra in London, Education Manager with the National Concert Hall in Dublin[40] and is currently a choral clinician and educator, most recently giving a series of workshops at Dublin's National Concert Hall in 2009/2010.

Miriam Blennerhassett is an Irish mezzo-soprano, and is the current Chorus Master of Anúna, also featuring as a soloist on CD, DVD and in performance. She features as a soloist on the albums Omnis, Invocation, Sensation, Deep Dead Blue, Celtic Origins and Behind the Closed Eye. She appears as a soloist on the DVDs Invocations of Ireland and Celtic Origins. Miriam is a founder member of Anúna.

Selected past members

A number of singers who have left the choir have gone on to achieve international recognition in their own right. Hozier, also known as Andrew Hozier-Byrne, was a member of Anúna from 2009 to 2012, and appears as a soloist on their 2012 release Illumination singing "La Chanson de Mardi Gras". He toured and sang with the group internationally including performances in Norway and the Netherlands.[41] Julie Feeney is a successful solo female artist and she sang alto with Anúna from 1997 to 2001. Ian King is a British songwriter 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 tenor with Anúna from 1996 to 1997. Eimear Quinn is a soprano, and won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1996 while she was a member of the group. She was part of Anúna from 1995 to 1996.[42] 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.

Four of the singers who have featured in the successful Celtic Woman are also ex-members of the choir. Éabha McMahon is a sean nós singer and joined Celtic Woman in 2015. She features as a soloist on two Anúna albums "Christmas Memories" (2008) and "Revelation" (2015). Órla Fallon is a solo recording artist traditional music who was a member of Anúna in 1996.[42] In 2010, her PBS Christmas Special "Órla Fallon's Celtic Christmas", also released as a CD and DVD, features Anúna on the track "Away in a Manger" performing with her.[43] Deirdre Shannon began her professional career in 1996 when she became a member of Anúna and features as a soloist on the original album release of "Behind the Closed Eye" as a soloist on the track "1901". Méav Ní Mhaolchatha is a soprano recording artist. Between 1994 and 1998, Méav was a member of Anúna.[42] 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. Lynn Hilary was a full-time member of Anúna between 2000 and 2007.[42] 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. In 2012 she featured as a soloist on two tracks, "Siosuram So" and "Summer Song" from the Anúna album Illumination (2012). She also features as a soloist on the Anúna album "Revelation" (2015).

Discography

Albums and DVD releases

The group has released several albums and DVDs:[44]

+ Both albums amalgamated into a single remastered release in 2003.

++ Indicates compilation

Recorded Collaborations

References

  1. 1 2 Allmusic Biography
  2. 1 2 3 Anúna website: Long biography
  3. ↑ The Journal of Music in Ireland : January/February edition 2002
  4. ↑ Hot Press : 27 November 1996
  5. 1 2 3 Rossow, Stacie Lee, "The Choral Music of Irish Composer Michael McGlynn" (2010):
  6. ↑ The RTÉ Guide : 6 December 1996
  7. ↑ Marrolli, Karen, "An Overview of the Choral Music of Michael McGlynn with a Conductor’s Preparatory Guide to His Celtic Mass" (2010):
  8. 1 2 All Music Guide:
  9. ↑ Billboard, 13 May 1995:
  10. ↑ "ChartArchive - The Chart Archive". chartstats.com. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  11. ↑ The Irish Times : Friday 23 December 1994
  12. ↑ "King Gaybo wins top award by a landslide". Independent.ie. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  13. 1 2 "Anúna at the Celtic Cafe". celticcafe.com. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  14. ↑ Michael McGlynn at The Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland
  15. ↑ Interview with Eimear Quinn
  16. ↑ Irish Music Magazine : December 1997
  17. ↑ Al-Mushahid Assiyasi [vol. 4 Issue 115] 24–30 May 1998
  18. ↑ The Sunday Herald: Classical touch to send Riverdance into the deep, deep blue
  19. ↑ The Irish News : 7 September 2002
  20. ↑ Elevation Website
  21. ↑ All Music Guide
  22. ↑ All Music Guide
  23. ↑ Anuna website "About Us"
  24. ↑ gravitate (4 August 2010). "RTÉ Orchestras: RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra The Seven-Thirty Summer Evening Concert Series". rte.ie. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  25. ↑ The Wiggles Official Website
  26. ↑ "Anúna to join Clannad in Concert » Irish Music Magazine". irishmusicmagazine.com. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  27. ↑
  28. ↑ National Concert Hall website
  29. ↑ "Chart Moves: Beyonce's 'Love' Doesn't Last, Drops 20-70 on Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  30. ↑ "Tohoku kids to get Irish cheer". The Japan Times. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  31. ↑ irishcentral.com
  32. ↑ Anúna Website News
  33. ↑ "Exclusive: Meet Diablo III's sound team, samples included". destructoid.com. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  34. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (7 February 2014). "Diablo 3 sales hit 15m as WOW subs rise". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  35. ↑ Anúna website: Short biography
  36. ↑ Anúna: Biography, AllMusic
  37. ↑ Michael McGlynn blog: "The Beginning – An Uaithne to Anúna"
  38. ↑ The Anúna Official Website
  39. ↑ The Anúna Official Website
  40. ↑ http://www.musicaldiscoveries.com/reviews/anuna.htm Interview with Lucy Champion, Musical Discoveries
  41. ↑ "Hozier - Interview". GoldenPlec. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  42. 1 2 3 4 "Past Members of Anúna 1997 to 2009". Anuna.ie. 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
  43. ↑ http://www.orlafallon.com/ Orla Fallon Official Website
  44. ↑ Allmusic: Albums
  45. ↑ "Valley Entertainment Celtic Dreams". valley-entertainment.com. Retrieved 8 February 2015.

External links

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