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.
Invocation
Anúna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ailiu iath nErenn
Ailiu
Ailiu iath nErenn
Ailiu (ailiu)
From the breeze on the mountain to the lake of deep blue
From the waterfall down to the sea
Sing the dark song of Erenn to me
Ailiu iath nErenn
Ailiu
Ailiu iath nErenn
Ailiu (ailiu)
From the breeze on the mountain to the lake of deep pools
From the waterfall down to the sea
Never changing or ending on the voice of the wind
Sing the dark song of Erenn to me
Ailiu iath nErenn
Ailiu
Ailiu
Ailiu iath nErenn
Ailiu
Ailiu
The lyrics to Anuna's song "Invocation" draw on the ancient Celtic concept of Erenn, also known as Ériu, which is said to be the goddess or personification of Ireland. The repeated use of "Ailiu" in the chorus is likely meant to evoke a sense of a ritual or incantation, further underscoring the idea of invoking the spirit of Erenn.
The first verse describes the landscape of Ireland, from the mountains and lakes to waterfalls and the sea. The idea of "never changing or ending" emphasizes the timeless and enduring quality of the natural world and the connection between the physical environment and the spirit of Erenn. The "dark song" that is sung by the wind may refer to the idea of the Otherworld or an underworld that coexists alongside the mortal world.
The song as a whole seems to be a call to connect with the spiritual essence of Ireland and to honor the ancient traditions and mythology of the culture. The haunting melody and repetition of the chorus serve to evoke a sense of mystery and reverence for the land and its history.
Line by Line Meaning
Ailiu, ailiu
Part of a repeated refrain to set the tone of the song
Ailiu iath nErenn
'Iath' meaning 'region or district' and 'Nerenn' being an ancient name for Ireland, this line describes the land of Ireland
From the breeze on the mountain to the lake of deep blue
The song is calling upon all aspects of nature in Ireland, from high places to bodies of water
From the waterfall down to the sea
Continuing to mention the different natural features in Ireland, this line highlights the path water takes through these features
Never changing or ending on the voice of the wind
Despite the changing seasons and time, the song is eternal and is carried by the wind which will never stop blowing
Sing the dark song of Erenn to me
Asking nature and the wind to sing a song that is both powerful and mysterious, truly representing Ireland
Ailiu
Repeating the refrain to maintain the tone and mood of the song
Ailiu iath nErenn
Again the song calls upon the natural beauty and power of Ireland
Ailiu
Repeating the refrain one final time before the song ends
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MICHAEL MCGLYNN, MICHAEL PHILIP MCGLYNN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cintivox
I love this song. It was sang in my marriage by a Brazilian vocal group this year. Thanks to exist Sir McGlynn and Anúna group. Love you all !!!
@VictoriaBlogger
Thank you so much for the beautiful song and the majestic video. If I ever get to travel to Ireland someday, the first thing I want to do is climb an ancient, rocky mountain and stand at the edge in the wind, singing an Anúna song! :-)
@zeluiznavegador7646
Musica linda!!! Coral maravilhoso... que toca as fibras mais sensíveis da nossa alma! Anúna, te amo!!! 🎤🎶🎧🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼❤❤❤
@cameronbell5879
The person who did the reverbing for this track is amazing
@anunachoir
Cameron Bell the great Brian Masterson.
@VictoriaBlogger
I love this comment! Definitely love their voices together - there are not very many pieces where we are able to easily hear just the two of them, and so it's very special when we can. "Annie's Song" and John's "Swimming in the Barrow" are two other beautiful examples.
@NejcRudel
After listening it for several thousand of times... it is still just as a blast... AMAZING stuff Michael !!! Deeply moving song!
@anunachoir
+Nejc Rudel ah now...
@fontedavidaonipotente8622
@ANÚNA - M'ANAM 😍😍😍😍😘😘😘😘😘
@DaNooGuy
You guys have really opened my mind to Irish culture and choral music in general. Hopefully whenever you come near my city in the states I can see you guys.