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.
Wind on Sea
Anúna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am the wind that breathes on the sea
I am the wave, wave on the ocean
I am the ray, the eye of the sun
I am the tomb, cold in the darkness
Who but I can cast light upon the meeting of the mountains?
I am a star, the tear of the sun
I am a wonder, a wonder in flower
I am the spear as it cries out for blood
The word of great power
I am the wind that breathes on the sea
Who but I can cast light upon the meeting of the mountains?
Who but I will cry aloud the changes in the moon?
Who but I will find the place where hides away the sun?
I am the depths of a great pool
I am the song of the blackbird
I am wind that breathes on the sea
Who but I can cast light upon the meeting of the mountains?
Who but I will cry aloud the changes in the moon?
Who but I will find the place where hides away the sun?
Ailiu iath nErenn
From the breeze on the mountain to the lake of deep blue
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
The song "Wind on Sea" by Anúna is a powerful piece that portrays the force and magnitude of nature. The first stanza starts with the singer identifying themselves as the wind that breathes on the sea, the wave in the ocean, the ray of sunlight, and the cold tomb in the darkness. The singer is proclaiming their omnipotence over the elements of nature and is highlighting their importance in bringing light and direction to the world.
The second stanza emphasizes the singer's power as a star, a wonder in the flower, and the spear that calls for blood. They refer to themselves as the word of great power, which signifies their role as a divine force. The repeated refrain "I am the wind that breathes on the sea" highlights their omnipresence and ultimate control over the natural world.
The final stanza references the singer's presence in everything from the breeze on the mountain to the song of the blackbird. The song ends with the singer calling out to Erenn, asking them to sing the dark song of the land, which further emphasizes the song's mystical and spiritual tone.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the wind that breathes on the sea
I am a powerful and constant force that brings life and movement to the ocean.
I am the wave, wave on the ocean
I am the constant motion of the ocean waves, both beautiful and powerful.
I am the ray, the eye of the sun
I am the light and warmth of the sun, shining bright on all below.
I am the tomb, cold in the darkness
I am the solemn and dark tomb, where all life comes to rest.
Who but I can cast light upon the meeting of the mountains?
Only I, the mighty wind, can shine a light on the mountains and their mysterious meeting points.
Who but I will find the place where hides away the sun?
Only I have the power to seek out and find the place where the sun goes to hide away.
I am a star, the tear of the sun
I am a cosmic symbol of beauty and brightness, shining like a tear of the sun itself.
I am a wonder, a wonder in flower
I am a marvel of nature, a blooming flower spreading beauty in the world.
I am the spear as it cries out for blood
I am the violent force of war, embodied in the spear and its powerful cry.
The word of great power
I hold a great and unmatched power in my words and voice.
Who but I will cry aloud the changes in the moon?
Only I can announce and sing of the mysterious changes in the moon's phases and patterns.
I am the depths of a great pool
I am the enigmatic and dark depths of a great pool, where secrets and mysteries reside.
I am the song of the blackbird
I am the beautiful and melodious song of the blackbird, filling the air with music.
From the breeze on the mountain to the lake of deep blue
From the highest mountains to the deepest lakes, I am constant and ever-present.
From the waterfall down to the sea
I flow from the majestic waterfall down to the endless sea, connecting and unifying all in my path.
Never changing or ending on the voice of the wind
My power and presence remain unyielding, everlasting, and guided by the mighty winds.
Sing the dark song of Erenn to me
Let the voice of the wind and the mysteries of Erenn sing to me and inspire me with their ancient power.
Ailiu iath nErenn
This is a Gaelic phrase that can be translated to 'The cry of the land of Erenn.'
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL MCGLYNN, MICHAEL PHILIP MCGLYNN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RebeccaETripp
This lyric in particular - it gives me chills every time:
"I am a wonder, a wonder in flower"
What an unbelievably beautiful and powerful sentiment! It's like the universe looking at itself in the mirror!
@luisfilipe1603
The Portuguese relationship with the sea it's know all over the world, so this music have all with us. It's my privilege to ear you. God bless you, from Lisbon 🇵🇹 respectfully
@RebeccaETripp
This came at the right time to heal me tonight!
@genekelly8467
Love this song! I first heard it whilst flying from Rio de janeiro to NYC..couldn't sleep!
@anunachoir
Thanks. It's a bit of a classic. 30 years old.
@elauadeinsf
For me, this is one of the most quietly powerful and subtly beautiful things I have ever encountered on youtube and on the internet itself. I adore its integrity and intimacy with the earth and elements. Go raibh míle maith agat.
@moisturemarvin1811
This is the song that inspired me to pursue singing, it's great to hear it once again. Hauntingly beautiful, thank you so much for sharing
@anunachoir
Thank you. Biggest compliment you can give us.
@MrWhiteamin
@@anunachoir Miss the wind , I used to play blues harp. I f it's up enough you just have to put fingers in front of the holes. Works on singing , it's pressing so much back down your throat again , that no sound comes out. 60 kn and up. I really don't know . But you have a masterpiece there , It made think about quitting smoking, and forgetting all the spray painting I've worked with . If Nature meant all things should be made from plastic , every tree would look like a plastic straw. You rape and sow as you rape. Or sow and reap . And that's the pay , You could have made that song , or reinstated it any time and it would have bee just as wonderful ,
@ladomi7962
Extraordinaire, magnifique, musique celeste!!!
Comment ne pas avoir des frissons!