Michael McGlynn

Review: This album is a re-recorded version of the original 1993 album. Its release marked the 15th anniversary of the highly acclaimed group, Anuna. This program features a wide variety of Celtic music from folk songs to newly composed music based on ancient texts, by director Michael McGlynn. It includes five additional tracks, three of which can be heard in the award-winning film "The Work of Angels." This recording certainly represents the best of the Celtic tradition.

Songlist: Media Vita, The First Day, Invocation, The Raid, Sanctus, Pater Noster, Faigh An Gleas, Suantrai, Bean Phaidin/ An Poc Ar Buile, Cormacus Scripsit, Silent, O Moyle, Jersusalem, Fionnghuala, Crist And St. Marie, The Blue Bird, Si Do Mhaimeo I

Review: Founded in 1987, Ireland's acclaimed 13-strong mixed-voice choral sensation Anuna, under the Musical Direction of Dublin composer Michael McGlynn and Directed by John McGlynn, recorded a series of excellent albums and a DVD after their leap into the spotlight touring and recording with Riverdance. The recordings from which "The Best of's" 22 tunes were selected are "Anuna," Invocation," "Omnis," "Deep Dead Blue," "Behind the Closed Eye," "Cynara," "Winter Songs," "Sanctus" and "Invocations of Ireland (DVD). Our (hard to pick) favorites are "August," from a poem by Francis Ledwidge, the chant "Christus Resurgens," a rare early Irish song written in 1150, the 16th century "Gaudette" from the Piae Cantiones, Michael McGlynn's adaption of a poem by St. Columcille, "The Wild Song," commissioned by Rajaton, the traditional "Dulaman," "Nobilis Humilis," an ode to 13th century St. Magnus of the Orkney Islands and to St. Patrick, the Irish romantic ballads "Ceann Dubh Dilis" and "The Lass of Glenshee" and "Wind on Sea," with lovely solos by John and Michael McGlynn. There is considerable accompaniment here, including guitar, low whistle, viola/violin, percussion, vibraphone, flute, Concert and Irish Harp, uileann pipes and tin whistle. Every song on this generous, well-chosen collection is powerful, haunting and beautiful. Don't miss "The Best of " Anuna!

Songlist: August, Siuil la Ruin, Christus Resurgens, Gaudete, Shining Water, Island, Salve Rex Gloriae, Crist And St. Marie, The Wild Song, Dulaman, Nobilis Humilis, Whispers of Paradise, Ceann Dubh Dilis, Jerusalem, Pie Jesu, The Lass Of Glenshee, Media Vita, The Rising Of The Sun, Wind On Sea, Geantrai, The Sea, O Maria

Review: Talented mixed-voice Irish vocal group Anuna focuses on a haunting blend of ancient Celtic music and contemporary Irish songs. Heavily featured is the original music of founder Michael McGlynn. 15 songs (the complete lyrics are in the lovely liner notes), "Igitur Servus," "Alleluia," "When the War Is Over," "I Dreamt that I Dwelt in Marble Halls, " the title tune, "Victimae," "Pie Jesu" and "Ocean" are particularly wonderful. "Cynara" is another winning collection from Ireland's finest.

Songlist: Igitur Sevus, An Olche, Riu Riu, Alleluia, When the War is Over, I Dreamt that I Dwelt in Marble Halls, Armarque cum Sculo, Miserere, Cynara, Buachaill on Elme, Fuigfidh Mise'n Baile Seo, Victimae, Christus 2000, Pie Jesu, Ocean

Review: Sublime Dublin composer Michael McGlynn and his talented mixed ensemble Anuna bring us their 6th haunting CD, based on the music of the ancient Celts. 13 songs, beginning with the title tune, written by Bill Frisell and Elvis Costello, McGlynn-arranged Irish and English Medieval masterpieces "Nobilis Humilis," "Dicant Nunc," "Ther Is No Ros" and "Quem Queritis," originals written by Michael, "Blackthorn," "Kyrie," "The Green Laurel," "Island," "The Fisher King" and "The Sea," and traditional songs like "Sliabh Geal Gcua," also McGlynn-arranged. The liner notes are gorgeous and stunning photos of the group in Irish landscapes follows the tone and spirit of the music exactly. Another amazing, unforgettable recording by Anuna. 

Songlist: Deep Dead Blue, Nobilis Humilis, Dicant Nunc, Blackthorn, Kyire, There Is No Rose, The Green Laurel, Sliabh Geal Gcua, The Fisher King, Quem Quertitis, The Sea, When I Was In My Prime

Review: Recorded twice, once in 1995 and again in 1996 for international release, Omnis is the best of these two recordings, and contains 3 bonus tracks, one of which ("A Stor mo Chroi") has never been released before. Anuna founder Michael McGlynn calls Omnis a defining CD of some of the group's most memorable moments, from the energetic "Dulaman," now a choral standard throughout the world, to the mystical and exotic "O Viridissima." All three of the lovely "Tenebrae" responsories are now included on one recording. 20 songs, remastered and re-edited, a "best-of" which includes "The Flower of Maherally," "Maria Matrem," "Ave Generosa," "Roisin Dubh" and "The Mermaid." This is spirited, haunting, memorable music from Ireland's finest mixed chorus. The full color liner notes has some beautiful pictures of the group and all the lyrics.

Songlist: Salve Rex Gloriae, Ardaigh Cuan, Beati Quorum Via, The Flower of Maherally, Geantrai, Maria Matrem, Codail a Linbh, Gaudete, Agnus Dei, Ave Generosa, O Viridissima, Dulaman, A Stor Mo Chroi, Roisin Dubh, The Mermaid, St. Nicholas, Diwanit Bugale, Tenebrae I, Tenebrae II, Tenebrae III

Review: Sanctus features seven tracks, including the famous "Miserere Mei Deus" by Allegri. This sublime piece features stratospheric soprano vocals and runs to just under 13 minutes in length. The album includes four original pieces by Michael McGlynn, including his "Agnus Dei". Four of the tracks have been previously released, however over two thirds of the album features newly recorded material.

Songlist: Crucifixus, Nobilis Humilis, Agnus Dei, Mariam Matrem Virginem, Victimae, Miserere Mei Deus, O Maria

Review: Vocal group Anuna's first release of new material in six years is a major leap forward from their last few offerings, throwing into high relief the progress that founder and group leader Michael McGlynn has made as a composer. The opening track '0 Ignis Spiritus' brings a text by medieval mystic Hildegarde von Bingen to glorious life, with Ken Edge's saxophone matching the reedy timbre of soloist Miriam Blennerhassett's wonderfully rich voice. The dreamy title track (McGlynn's setting of the Rimbaud poem of that name) is another highlight, with the gravel-voiced Gilles Servat speaking the verses over the ensemble's multi-layered harmonies. Bringing the CD to an electrifying close is the shimmering, densely textured '0 Maria', which deserves to become part of the standard repertoire for choral groups everywhere.

Songlist: O Ignis Spiritus, Brezairola, Sensation, Silver River, Shining Water, Lux Aeterna, The Road Of Passage, Whispers Of Paradise, Maid In The Moor, O Maria, Tenebrae IV

Review: "Invocations of Ireland" features the voices of the Irish choral group Anuna performing the music of Dublin composer Michael McGlynn. This is an elegant and Visually spectacular study of the Irish countryside filmed entirely on location, and includes spiritually resonant lanscapes of Wicklow and the West of Ireland.

Songlist: Whispers of Paradise, Siuil a Ruin, Maid in the Moor, Song of Oisin, Kells, August, From Nowhere to Nowhere, Ave Maria, Ceann Dubh Dilis