Essential Anuna (CD - 2005)

Anúna: Kim Lynch, Miriam Blennerhassett, Michael McGlynn, John McGlynn, Monica Donlon, Lucy Champion, Garrath Patterson, Lynn Hilary, Joanna Fagan, Sarah O Kennedy, Derina Johnson (vocals).

Personnel: John McGlynn (guitar); Dennis Kelly , Anne-Marie O'Farrell (harp); Aingeala DeBurca (violin); Declan Masterson (tin whistle, Uilleann pipe); Kenneth Edge (saxophone); Bernard Reilly, Noel Eccles (percussion).

Recording information: Switzerland (1993-2004); Windmill Lane Studios (1993-2004).

Director: John McGlynn.

Arrangers: John McGlynn; Michael McGlynn.

ESSENTIAL ANUNA is a career overview of the compelling Celtic choral ensemble. At 19 tracks, ESSENTIAL is a generous compilation of Anuna's output, highlighting its dramatic, artful explorations of medieval choral music that encompasses Irish, Latin, Greek, and Scots Gaelic traditions. On paper, Anuna's pan-historical and cross-cultural interests sound like a scattershot approach for a group, yet in practice the music works beautifully, thanks mostly to composer Michael McGlynn's challenging, meticulous arrangements and the gorgeous blend of tones achieved by Anuna's members.

Anuna dabbles in traditional church music ("Christus Resurgens"), Irish folk ("The Flower of Maherally"), and McGlynn's own 21st-century updates of these forms ("Victimae"). The group even takes a turn at an Elvis Costello and Bill Frisell tune entitled "Deep Dead Blue" (which Anuna imbues with an appropriately haunting and eerie cast). Though the personnel of Anuna is constantly rotating (the ensemble averages around 15 singers), its sound is never less than full and seamlessly integrated. Anuna makes evocative music that feels ancient, contemporary, and timeless at once, and ESSENTIAL is an ideal way to sample its talents. minimize