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.
The Flower of Maherally
Anúna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nature was adorning and the wee birds sweetly singing O
I met my love near Banbridge Town, my charming blue-eyed Sally O
She's the queen of the County Down, the flower of Maherally O
With admiration I did gaze upon this blue-eyed maiden O
Adam wasn't half so pleased when he met his Eve in Eden O
Her skin was like the lily white that grows in yonder valley O
I hope the day will surely come when we'll join hands together O
'Tis then I'll take my darling home in spite of wind and weather O
And let them all say what they will and let them reel and rally O
For I shall wed the girl I love, the flower of Maherally O
And let them all say what they will and let them reel and rally O
For I shall wed the girl I love, the flower of Maherally O
The Flower of Maherally by Anúna is a beautiful song that tells the story of a man who falls in love with a girl named Sally. The song is set in the countryside during a pleasant summer's morning where flowers are springing and the birds are singing. The singer expresses his admiration for Sally and how he met her near Banbridge Town. He describes her as the queen of the County Down and the flower of Maherally. Maherally is a place in Northern Ireland where the tradition of courtship and love is quite pronounced.
The singer is enamored by Sally's beauty and compares it to that of the lily-white. He is hopeful that the day will come when they will join hands together and he will take her home despite any obstacles that may come their way. He is determined to marry her and is willing to face any opposition that may arise. He is confident in his love for her and will not be swayed by anyone else's opinions.
Overall, The Flower of Maherally is a beautiful love song that captures the essence of traditional courtship in Northern Ireland. The song expresses the singer's admiration and devotion to his love interest and his willingness to face any obstacles to be with her.
Line by Line Meaning
One pleasant summer's morning when all the flowers were springing O
On a peaceful morning in summer when flowers were blooming
Nature was adorning and the wee birds sweetly singing O
The beauty of nature was enhancing while little birds were singing melodiously
I met my love near Banbridge Town, my charming blue-eyed Sally O
I encountered my love, Sally, with a gracious personality and captivating blue eyes near Banbridge Town
She's the queen of the County Down, the flower of Maherally O
Sally holds the royal status of being the most beautiful girl in County Down and is known as the flower of Maherally
With admiration I did gaze upon this blue-eyed maiden O
I couldn't stop myself from admiring this blue-eyed girl
Adam wasn't half so pleased when he met his Eve in Eden O
Even Adam wasn't as enchanted as I am while meeting Eve in the Garden of Eden
Her skin was like the lily white that grows in yonder valley O
Her skin was as white and pure as the lily flowers blooming in the valley over there
She's my queen and my heart's delight, the flower of Maherally O
To me, she is not less than a queen, and her presence fills my heart with happiness. She is still the most beautiful girl in Maherally.
I hope the day will surely come when we'll join hands together O
I'm hopeful that one day we will unite our hands and never separate
'Tis then I'll take my darling home in spite of wind and weather O
I'll take my beloved to my abode no matter what the situation or weather may be
And let them all say what they will and let them reel and rally O
I don't care what others have to say, and I'm not moved by their reactions or opinions
For I shall wed the girl I love, the flower of Maherally O
I'm determined to marry the girl I love, no matter what happens; she will always be the most beautiful girl in Maherally.
And let them all say what they will and let them reel and rally O
Once again, I declare that I am not affected by their words or actions.
For I shall wed the girl I love, the flower of Maherally O
I will always be devoted to the girl I love, no matter what the circumstances may be. Her beauty will always be a part of my life.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: . TRADITIONAL, MICHAEL MCGLYNN, MICHAEL PHILIP MCGLYNN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@claireroche4486
This is so beautiful and tender .Thank you Michael and all in Anúna for your gift and joy you give.
@vegasshowgirlshoes
No auto tuners , no BS , Just some of the most pure talent on the planet. Michael and Anuna , THANK YOU ,
@CarolineLockMusic
Rediscovered this after several years - just as sublime as the first time I heard it.
@naokosakurai1655
切なくて美しくて人々の心に刺さる、永遠に残したい曲。
何度でも聴いていたい。
@OSTARAEB4
He sings, they sing the pain and the beauty of the country as I see it.
@gabrieleholler7271
What a wonderful song, what a wonderful voice. Thank you.
@mji71
I remember the first time I heard Celtic Origins while shopping at my local Borders bookstore. From that moment, Celtic Origins remains one of my top 3 CDs ever purchased (I even have the DVD)! Just one masterpiece after another... so very thankful for the incredible talent and arrangements by Anúna❣️
@anunachoir
Thank you. The pieces were mainly written rather than arranged by Michael McGlynn - you might like to explore some of his other work.
@Zajacek1
So incredibly beautiful song!!!!!
@titantim
I had the pleasure of hearing these guys play in Ottawa, Canada about twenty years ago. All these years later and I still can't get enough of this song. Glad I stumbled onto it again.