The majority of singers come from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland with many of its members also drawn from all over the world. Their repertoire is written or arranged for the group by McGlynn, and includes reconstructions of Early and Medieval music from Ireland and beyond presented in a candle-lit, costumed ambiance that allows the group to connect with a very wide variety of audience despite the eclectic nature of the music they sing.
Anúna perform between twelve and fourteen singers, unconducted, in any performance. They are equally at home in an amplified theatrical setting or an unamplified concert hall.
Anúna created the vocal ambiance of Riverdance (1994-1996), achieved a Top 10 placing on the U.K. Singles Charts while remaining at Number 1 on the Irish singles charts for eighteen weeks. In 2012 they appeared as the "Voices of Hell" on the video game Diablo 3 [Blizzard] gaining a Game Audio Network Guild nomination for the Best Original Choral Performance in February 2013. In February 2018 the group won the Outstanding Ensemble category of the Annual Game Music Awards for their contributions to the soundtrack of the hugely successful video game Xenoblade Chronicles II. In February 2017 the group participated in an extraordinary collaboration with Noh Theatre entitled "Takahime", a Japanese adaptation of W.B. Yeats' play "At the Hawk's Well". The performance was directed by Gensho Umewaka (Japanese National Treasure) and Michael McGlynn, who also composed an original score.
While curating the Meltdown Festival at London's South Bank, Elvis Costello invited Anúna to perform as featured guests and in 2011 they featured on DVD and CD with the pioneering Australian children's entertainers The Wiggles. A number of Anúna singers have gone on to carve very successful careers as solo artists including singer-songwriter Hozier [2007 - 2012] and six of the lead soloists in the phenomenally successful Celtic Woman including Lynn Hilary and Éabha McMahon.
In complete contrast, as a classical choral ensemble Anúna have appeared at the World Sacred Music Festival in Morocco and at the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall, London. They have sung at many major classical venues including the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre, Muziekgebouw Eindhoven, De Doelen Rotterdam, Hyogo Performing Arts Center and Orchard Hall in Tokyo, New York Town Hall and Minneapolis Symphony Hall.
They have collaborated with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland on two major concerts of McGlynn's compositions at Dublin's National Concert Hall (2009 & 2010).
Anúna have an active and highly successful Education & Outreach programme that has been responsible for workshops across China, Japan, Spain, Belgium, Israel, Sweden, Canada, Poland, the UK and The Netherlands. In 2012 they presented at the Shanghai Conservatory. In 2015 the group presented an interest Session as part of the American Choral Directors Association National Conference at Salt Lake, Utah, USA. In 2019 their sixth highly successful annual ANÚNA International Summer School in Dublin, which attracts professional and amateur choral musicians from all over the world, will take place in Dublin preceded by the first ANÚNA Winter School in February in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Anúna have released eighteen albums since 1991 and have been featured artists on three Grammy Award-winning albums. Invocation (1994) won a National Entertainment Award for Classical music, while Deep Dead Blue (1996) was nominated for a Classical Brit Award. Celtic Origins (2007), also an award-winning PBS show and DVD, became the number one selling CD on the US World Music Charts that August while September 2011 saw their album Christmas Memories reaching the Hot 100 of the Billboard Album Chart. In 2008 the choir released Invocations of Ireland, McGlynn's self-made film, an evocative depiction of the Irish landscape and its relationship to his music. This has been broadcast extensively in Australia/New Zealand, with the DVD being released on Australia's DV1 and Columbia Music Entertainment in Japan.
They have been signed to some of the world's major record labels including Decca, Universal Classics, Polygram, E1 and Philips. Michael McGlynn's sheet music is available from www.michaelmcglynn.com.
Cynara
Anúna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There fell thy shadow, Cynara, thy breath was shed
Upon my soul between the kisses and the wine
And I was desolate and sick of an old passion
Yea, I was desolate and bowed my head
I have been faithful to thee, Cynara, in my fashion
All night upon mine heart I felt her warm heart beat
Surely the kisses of her bought red mouth were sweet
And I was desolate and sick of an old passion
When I awoke and found the dawn was gray
I have been faithful to thee, Cynara, in my fashion
I have forgot much, Cynara, gone with the wind
Flung roses riotously with the throng
Dancing, dancing to put thy pale, lost lilies out of my mind
And I was desolate and sick of an old passion
Yea, all the time because the dance was long
I have been faithful to thee, Cynara, in my fashion
I cried for madder music and for stronger wine
But when the feast is finished and the lamps expire
There falls thy shadow, Cynara, the night is thine
And I was desolate and sick of an old passion
Yea, hungry for the lips of my desire
I have been faithful to thee, Cynara, in my fashion
The poem "Cynara" by Ernest Dowson is about the singer, who is consumed by his desire for a woman named Cynara. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each of which focuses on a different aspect of the singer's relationship with Cynara. The first stanza describes a night when the singer and Cynara are together. The singer feels Cynara's shadow falling upon him and her breath upon his soul, but he is desolate and sick of an old passion. Despite his feelings, he claims that he has been faithful to her in his own way.
The second stanza continues this theme, with the singer describing how he has been with Cynara all night, feeling her warm heart beating against his chest. He finds her kisses to be sweet, but he is still desolate and sick of his old passion. When he wakes up to find that the dawn is gray, he again claims his faithfulness to her.
The third stanza marks a shift in the singer's attitude towards Cynara. He mentions how he has forgotten many things about her and has been dancing and drinking to forget her. He is still desolate and sick of his old passion, but he claims to have been faithful to her in his fashion.
The final stanza finds the singer longing for Cynara once again. He cries for madder music and stronger wine, but he knows that in the end, Cynara's shadow will fall upon him once more. Despite his hunger for his desire, he still claims his faithfulness to her in his fashion.
Overall, the poem presents a complex picture of a man who is torn between his desire for a woman and his disillusionment with that desire. While he claims to be faithful to her, it is clear that he struggles to maintain his feelings over time.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night, ah yesternight, between her lips and mine
Last night, oh last night, we kissed and in between our kisses I thought of you, Cynara.
There fell thy shadow, Cynara, thy breath was shed
I felt your shadow over me and sensed your breath surrounding me, Cynara.
Upon my soul between the kisses and the wine
I felt your presence within me during our moments of intimacy between the sips of wine, Cynara.
And I was desolate and sick of an old passion
I was empty and tired of a past love, Cynara.
Yea, I was desolate and bowed my head
Yes, I was sad and lowered my head, Cynara.
I have been faithful to thee, Cynara, in my fashion
I have stayed loyal to you, Cynara, in my own way.
All night upon mine heart I felt her warm heart beat
All night, I could feel her heart beating warmly against my own heart.
Nightlong within mine arms in love and sleep she lay
All night, we were wrapped up in each other's arms, in love and sleep.
Surely the kisses of her bought red mouth were sweet
Her kisses from her red lips were undoubtedly sweet.
When I awoke and found the dawn was gray
The next morning, when I woke up and saw that the sky was gray.
I have been faithful to thee, Cynara, in my fashion
Despite my actions, I have remained loyal to you, Cynara, in my own way.
I have forgot much, Cynara, gone with the wind
I have forgotten many things, Cynara, they have disappeared like the wind.
Flung roses riotously with the throng
I have thrown roses wildly amongst the crowd.
Dancing, dancing to put thy pale, lost lilies out of my mind
Dancing, dancing, trying to forget about you and the memories we once shared, Cynara.
Yea, all the time because the dance was long
Yes, all the while because the dance lasted a long time.
I have been faithful to thee, Cynara, in my fashion
Despite my actions, I have remained loyal to you, Cynara, in my own way.
I cried for madder music and for stronger wine
I longed for wilder music and stronger wine.
But when the feast is finished and the lamps expire
But when the celebration is over and the lights are out.
There falls thy shadow, Cynara, the night is thine
Your shadow falls upon me, Cynara, and the night is yours.
And I was desolate and sick of an old passion
I was empty and tired of a past love, Cynara.
Yea, hungry for the lips of my desire
Yes, I am longing for the lips of my true love.
I have been faithful to thee, Cynara, in my fashion
Despite my actions, I have remained loyal to you, Cynara, in my own way.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: . TRADITIONAL, AUTHOR UNKNOWN COMPOSER, COMPOSER AUTHOR UNKNOWN, MICHAEL MCGLYNN, MICHAEL PHILIP MCGLYNN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Milly Que bueno primito te quiero mucho. Mandihoka
So beautiful . God bless you guys. Thanks a lot. Amen.
GirlFromTheEarth
I'm not sure if I've ever heard something more beautiful than this.
ANÚNA - M'ANAM
Thank you. 21 years old now.
nevskislake
There are too many favorite songs from Anuna to name, but Cynara will always be my absolute favorite.
denim
thank you beautiful voice 💖
じゃがばたあG
これは神の声✨
Merri-Todd Webster
I believe I wrote a paper on Dowson in college, yet I have somehow never heard this piece, in nearly thirty years of listening to Anuna.
Merri-Todd Webster
@ANÚNA - M'ANAM Thank you, or as it is also said, go raith maith agat.
ANÚNA - M'ANAM
Well you are a massive fan and we love you :-)🎄
Merri-Todd Webster
@ANÚNA - M'ANAM Last night, after listening to your channel at work, I dug out my Anuna CDs. I have Sensation, Deep Dead Blue, Illuminations, and Revelation, along with the eponymous Anuna, Invocation, and Omnis. But no Cynara!