Anúna brings Celtic music to the world

The choir includes folk and pop songs in its concerts.

By JOHN BENSON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

For over two decades, Anúna creator and founder Michael McGlynn has heard the same response from American audiences.

“The common remark we get in the U.S.A. is, ‘Why haven’t I heard of this before?’” said McGlynn, during a recent phone call to his Dublin, Ireland, home.

The truth is most Americans are more familiar with Anúna than they may think. While the choral outfit was created in the late ’80s, it wasn’t until “Riverdance” came to Broadway in the mid-’90s for its initial stateside run that audiences took notice of the unique act, which plugs the gap between classical and popular music.

Anúna, whose music is part classical, part folk and part Celtic, was its own entity before being incorporated into the original incarnation of “Riverdance.” 

“‘Riverdance’ was a wonderful show, which was an expression of our culture,” McGlynn said. “So for that moment, we were standing on the world stage. But after that, it had no more relevance to Irish culture than ‘Cats’ or ‘Starlight Express.’ It really turned into a money-making Broadway show.

“I know it touches people still today, but there is nothing to do with my culture. So Anúna was formed out of a love and respect for my own culture, and as a result it grows with each passing year.”

Top of the charts

The act’s current growth can be heard on its recently released 11th album, “Celtic Origins,” which topped the American world music charts. The 19-track effort features original music written by McGlynn, as well as old Irish material dating back hundreds of years to special arrangements of traditional songs, including “Greensleeves,” “I Dreamt I Dwelt In Marble Halls” and “Our Wedding Day.” Furthermore, the act has added a cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Scarborough Fair” and John Denver’s “Annie’s Song.”

It’s the pop material that McGlynn feels acts as the bait for attracting a wider audience to Anúna’s music.

“One of the key issues when you deal with Anúna is that because the material is very unusual, it’s very important that the people aren’t frightened by it,” McGlynn said. “So we give people material that they know, but it’s performed in such a way that they get a sense of what Anúna is from it.”

Another successful icebreaker for Anúna is its new live DVD, which was taped last winter at Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland. McGlynn said the experience was magical.

Add in the fact that PBS has been recently airing the concert recording, which featured the Irish group joined by 11 world-class musicians, and you better believe Anúna won’t be under the mainstream radar for long.

Pittsburgh concert

The 14-person choral outfit comes to Pittsburgh for a Friday show at the Orchard Hill Church in Wexford.

“It’s like attending a classical music concert and actually sitting in the orchestra,” McGlynn said. “The choir performs on a level that everyone can understand, but they don’t talk down to people. The music speaks over 1,000 years. It’s a very deep experience. We’re not sure why Anúna has the effect it has. We just try to be as honest and genuine in a world that is completely artificial and about a lack of honesty.

“Anúna is honest music. It’s sung in an honest way. And it’s performed from the heart and touches people from the heart. Corny and all as it sounds, it’s actually true. It might not be some people’s kettle of fish, but I can guarantee anybody that came along to see Anúna, they will not go away unaffected.”