anuna.ie
muziekweb.nl
1997
Danú 009
2003
Danú 017
May to September 1997 and August 2002
Ulster Hall, Belfast and Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin
anuna.ie
muziekweb.nl
1997
Danú 009
2003
Danú 017
May to September 1997 and August 2002
Ulster Hall, Belfast and Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin
1 - August
[1:51]
2 - Aisling [3:16]
3 - The Great Wood [3:12]
4 - From Nowhere to Nowhere [2:33]
5 - Annaghdown [3:19]
6 - Ceann Dubh Dílis [2:06]
7 - Ave Maria [2:53]
8 - Gathering Mushrooms [3:00]
9 - Behind the Closed Eye [3:17]
10 - Midnight [4:20]
11 - The Coming of Winter [2:43]
12 - Where All Roses Go [3:53]
13 - 1901 [5:29]
All tracks written, orchestrated and arranged by Michael
McGlynn
"Aisling" was commissioned by The Ulster Orchestra, aided by the Arts
Council of Northern Ireland
"From Nowhere to Nowhere" was commissioned by Gerard McChrystal, grant
aided by the Arts Council of Ireland
Anúna
Michael McGlynn, John McGlynn
|
Michael McGlynn (solo:
#1, 8, 12) |
Deirdre Gilsenan |
Kenneth Edge • saxophone
The Ulster Orchestra
Lesley Hatfield
Director / Soloist
|
First Violins |
Cellos |
This album was inspired by the poetry of
Francis Ledwidge (born Slane, Co. Meath, August
1887, died Ypres,
France, July 1917); beneath the gentle surface of his work runs a
direct line to the ancient nature poets of Ireland where beautiful
natural imagery conceals a poetic truth.
AUGUST
Text written by Francis Ledwidge
AISLING
An Aisling was a dream or vision that came to the poet while he slept,
usually in the form of a beautiful woman.
THE GREAT WOOD
An evocation of natural, primordial energy blended with the words of
the Gloria from the Christian Mass.
FROM NOWHERE TO NOWHERE
In the Great Famine (1845-1847) special road building schemes were set
up by the Government to provide work. Roads were built under the
proviso that they were functionless, leading from nowhere to nowhere.
These schemes acted as one of the major breeding grounds for infection,
as it drew together healthy people and the sick and dying.
ANNAGHDOWN
Annaghdown / Eanach Dhúin is a small parish on the east side of Lough
Corrib, north of Galway City. A group of villagers were attempting to
cross Lough Corrib, when tragically the boat sank very close to shore.
Of the thirty passengers, eleven men and eight women drowned. This song
contains extracts from the poem written by Anthony Raftery
(c.1784-1835) as a memorial to those who died.
CEANN DUBH DÍLIS
A traditional text dating from the 18th century
AVE MARIA
Featuring the beautiful voice of Miriam Blennerhasset, this dramatic
setting of the "Hail Mary" searches out the emotional intensity of the
text.
GATHERING MUSHROOMS
This text comes from Northern Ireland. Ketchup was made from mushrooms.
BEHIND THE CLOSED EYE
This vocalise, beautifully balancing the warmth of Ken Edge's saxophone
with the sound of Anúna. The text is by the Irish writer Sedulius
Scottus and dates from the 9th Century.
MIDNIGHT
The text of this wonderful poem was written by Francis Ledwidge
THE COMING OF WINTER
This text dates from the 9th century
WHERE ALL ROSES GO
The text is adapted from Francis Ledwidge's poems "Lament for Thomas
MacDonough" and "June". Dedicated to Jeff Buckley (1967-1997)
1901
Beginning with a solo voice in isolation, sung by Lucy Champion, and
ending on a whispered orchestral chord, this piece combines many of the
elements of the entire album. It is divided into three parts, solo
voice, an opening plaintive melody on the upper strings and then
orchestra and choir.
Michael writes: "1901 evokes memories of my childhood in Donegal, where
the ever present sound of the sea created a music that I have attempted
to capture in many of my pieces."
Danú 009, 1997
Danú 017, 2003 (digipack)
