OTHERWORLD
CD Edition
1. Ēarendel 4.44
2. Rosc 4.30
3. Ever Come to an End 3.08
4. Song of the Selkie 8.29
5. Sofðu, unga ástin mín 5.50
6. Shadow of the Lowlands 3.02
7. Our Eternal Land 3.22
8. Prophetarum Presignata 3.17
9. We Are the Chosen Ones 3.11
10. Heyr, himna smiður 3.17
11. Suantraí 4.14
Vinyl Edition
A
Rosc 4.28
Ever Come to an End 3.09
Ēarendel 4.45
Sofðu, unga ástin mín 5.46
B
Prophetarum Presignata 3.23
Suantraí 4.13
Shadow of the Lowlands 3.03
Song of the Selkie 8.28
Produced and Edited by Michael McGlynn & Brian Masterson
Recorded at Sundlaugin Studio, Iceland and at Soundscape Studio, Ireland. Recorded and Mastered by Brian Masterson November 2022 - May 2023
Assisted by Ása Ólafsdóttir
ANÚNA
Aisling McGlynn
Alda Úlfarsdóttir
Ásta Sigríður Arnardóttir
Benjamin Mahns-Mardy
Bjarni Guðmundsson
Bryndís Guðjónsdóttir
Cian O'Donnell
Daithí Ó Nuanáin
Deirdre Higgins
Ellie Níc Fhionnghaile
Élodie Pont
Jan Kuhar
John McGlynn
Jón Ingi Stefánsson
Lauren McGlynn
Lorna Breen
Lucy Champion
Manon Cousin
Marteinn Snævarr Sigurðsson
Massimo Orlandini
Miriam Blennerhassett
Nejc Rudel
Nick Stoppel
Noah Thys
Pauline Langlois de Swarte
Pétur Oddbergur Heimisson
Philip Barkhudarov
Ragnar Pétur Jóhannson
Regina McDonald
Rory Musgrave
Ryan Garnham
Sara Di Bella
Ragnheiður Sara Grímsdóttir
Sara Weeda
Sigrid Algesten
Sólveig Sigurðardóttir
Sorcha Fenlon
Þórhallur Auður Helgason
Valgerður Helgadóttir
Much of this record was created spontaneously, with the music only being completed as we were recording it. It is possible that Iceland itself gave me a moment of grace in Sundlaugin, but I think it was the tireless dedication of the singers who brought this to life. Thank you to Yasunori for creating these beautiful songs for ANÚNA, to Ivana and Massimo for keeping the fire burning when there was little to fuel it, to Kallí for the cold water and the inspiration, Margrét Pálsdóttir and Ingveldur Ýr Jónsdóttir for the wide-armed welcome, to Þórhallur for a break when it was most needed, to Brian who came the whole way on this unexpected journey with me and to Lucy, Aisling and Lauren for inspiring so much of what appears here. And to Bundoran in Co. Donegal where the sea sings.
This album is dedicated to the memory of Michael McGlynn, a brilliantly gifted Australian musician.
Ēarendel
Composer: Michael McGlynn
Text: Traditional & M.McGlynn
Soloists: Lucy Champion, Aisling McGlynn, Lauren McGlynn
"Ēarendel," grapples with the paradox of transient human experience within the context of cosmic time. The discovery of the star Earendel by the Hubble Space Telescope serves as the inspiration for this work. Located 28 billion light-years from Earth and with a mass vastly exceeding that of our Sun, the star's ancient light—lonely and red from its lengthy journey through space—poses profound questions about existence, entrophy and the nature of time itself. To mirror these expansive concepts, I've incorporated a tapestry of linguistic elements from various poetic traditions—Irish, Latin, Icelandic, and Old English. The main text itself is found in the Exeter Book, a manuscript dating from the late 10th century.
Ēala ēarendel, engla beorhtast, ofer middangeard monnum sended, ond soðfæsta sunnan lēoma
Hail Earendel, brightest of angels, over Middle-earth to men sent, and true radiance of the Sun.
Ave Stella solitaria, lux antiqua
Hail solitary star, ancient light.
Rosc
Composer: Michael McGlynn
Text: Amergin Glúingel & Michael McGlynn
Percussion - Noel Eccles / bodhrán & electric guitar - Cian O’Donnell
"Rosc" serves as a meeting point between the mystical and contemporary, between ancient and modern layers of Irish identity. Amergin is famously credited with the song that calmed the seas as the Milesians arrived in Ireland. My modern text counters with ethereal simplicity, casting the tranquility of a silent night sky and the quiet splendour of nature.
Soineann na hoíche, suaimhneas an fhíobha. Na réalta ag dealramh i suaimhneas na hoíche
The brightness of the night, the stillness of the wilderness. The stars shining in the stillness of the night.
Iascach muir, mothach tír, tomaidhm n-éisc, íasc fo thoinn
Fish-full sea, the land full of bounty, plunder of fish, fish under wave.
Four Songs from Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Ever Come to an End
Soloist: Lauren McGlynn
Shadow of the LowlandS
Soloist & Guitar: John McGlynn
Our Eternal Land
WE ARE The Chosen Ones
Soloist: Þórhallur Auður Helgason
All titles Composed by Yasunori Mitsuda
ANÚNA featured on the original soundtrack of the video game Xenoblade Chronicles 2. These four beautiful songs were composed for us by Yasunori Mitsuda – “Ever Come to an End” is featured in the game in Theosoir, the capital of Tantal in daylight while “Shadow of the Lowlands” features at night. The action takes place in the giant Titan Genbu which resembles a massive tortoise. It is home to the Kingdom of Tantal, an isolationist state. Genbu features a much colder climate than other Titans, and is the only one known to experience snowfall. Its arctic-like climate is not natural, however, as the Kingdom of Tantal needs to sap its ether energy to refine Core Chips for the Indoline Praetorium. “Our Eternal Land” and “We Are the Chosen Ones” both feature in the Indoline Praetorium, day and night respectively.
The lyrics explore complex themes of destiny, resilience, and identity - matters that resonate deeply within the conceptual framework of "Otherworld”.
Ever Come to an End
Shadow of the lowland leading to the cold and darkened days
Without any hope, without a light for long.
Will this suffering ever come to an end one day...?
Even so, pride keeps us strong today, glory will be with us.
Now the time has come to fight and seize the day.
When will our prayers be heard high up in the sky above?
Soon fate will show us the place where we belong.
Suddenly, a gleam of dawn
Can you feel the power of faith?
Our native land, here we stand as one.
Shadows of the lowland leading to the cold and darkened days
Our path...
Shadow of the Lowlands
Shadow of the lowland leading to the cold and darkened days
Without any hope, without a light for long.
Will this suffering ever come to an end?
Will this suffering ever come to an end one day…?
Pride keeps us strong today, glory will be with us.
Now the time has come to fight and seize the day.
Pride keeps us strong today, glory will be with us
Suddenly, a gleam of dawn.
Can you feel the power of faith?
Our native land, here we stand as one.
Our Eternal Land
Our eternal land is keeping us in warm embrace
Some must carry on God's will
And some must face the dark, it is in father's wishes we live
Let us come together, we must never give up
Let those people see, guide the ones who cannot hear
Voices guide us through, words from above, we are the chosen ones
We are softly in those wings safely held up high
As we sleep in silence feel no fear, I know he'll stand by (I just know it)
Guardian angels, they too will keep us safe
Our path we chose is cold and the dark has no place to dream
Must we go on?
Will we ever prevail and smile in peace?
Our eternal land is keeping us in warm embrace
We're the chosen ones from up above the holy sky.
WE ARE The ChosEn Ones
Our eternal land is keeping us in warm embrace
Some must carry on God's will
And some must face the dark, it's in father's wishes we live
Let us come together, we must never give up
Let those people see, guide the ones who cannot hear
Voices guide us through, words from above, we are the chosen ones
We are softly in those wings safely held up high
As we sleep in silence, (I just know it)
Guardian angels, they too will keep us safe
The path we chose is cold and the dark has no place to dream
Must we go on?
Will we ever prevail and smile in peace?
Our eternal land is keeping us in warm embrace
We're the chosen ones from up above the holy sky
Song of the Selkie
Composed by Michael McGlynn
Viola: Karl James Pestka
Soloists: Aisling McGlynn, Lauren McGlynn
“A child walks by the sea and sings. A selkie echoes her song, coming closer to the shore and singing to the child of the great sea, dark and ancient. The child calls to the selkie and the creature transforms. They dance in the evening sun. Then the child transforms and passes towards the night. The selkie sings again, but this time alone as she returns to the darkening sea”.
A selkie is a mythological being that can transform from seal to human form. Such creatures feature in both Irish and Icelandic folklore, grown from the complex relationship people of these regions have with the ocean. Selkie stories often revolve around themes of longing, transformation, and the immutable pull of two separate worlds - the earth and the sea. This song begins with a viola piece called “Merrow," which refers to another sea-folk myth.
Ar uisce beannaithe,
Ar uisce ceolmhar,
Loinnir na gréine, siosarnach
Réalt geal na maidine
Dhá cheol ag méadú le chéile mar aon
Amhrán ar uisce ceolmhar
Amhrán ar uisce beannaithe
Loinnir ar uisce réalt geal na maidine
Uisce chiúin
Blessed water,
Musical water,
The brightness of the sun, whispering,
Bright morning star,
Two music rising together as one,
A song on musical water,
A song on blessed water,
Light on water, bright morning star,
Quiet water.
Sofðu, unga ástin mín
Composer: Michael McGlynn
Text: Jóhann Sigurjónsson
Soloists: Þórhallur Auður Helgason, Pétur Oddbergur Heimisson, Bryndís Guðjónsdóttir
“Sofðu, unga ástin mín” "Sleep, my young love" was written by Icelandic playwright Jóhann Sigurjónsson, a very beautiful lullaby that features three of the Icelandic members of ANÚNA, Þórhallur Auður Helgason, Pétur Oddbergur Heimisson and Bryndís Guðjónsdóttir. The story is about Fjalla-Eyvindur, Icelandic for "Eyvindur of the Mountains" 1714–1783) who was an Icelandic outlaw. He and his wife Halla are reported to have fled into the remote highlands of Iceland after 1760. They lived in the wilderness for 20 years. Halla sang this song to her baby before she threw it into a waterfall so she could follow her husband on his run from the authorities. The reference in the poem to bones is because sheep bones were used as toys and were called "leggur og skel" ("calf bone and seashell"). While a lullaby is traditionally a woman’s song, I asked Þórhallur to take the tenor solo at the beginning with all its aching sadness. The piece opens out into the vastness and beauty of the Icelandic landscape that has been so inspirational to me as a composer.
Sofðu, unga ástin mín,
úti regnið, regnið grætur.
Mamma geymir gullin þín,
gamla leggi og völuskrín.
Við skulum ekki vaka um dimmar nætur.
Það er margt sem myrkrið veit,
- minn er hugur þungur.
Oft ég svarta sandinn leit
svíða grænan engireit.
Í jöklinum hljóða dauðadjúpar sprungur.
Sofðu lengi, sofðu rótt,
seint mun best að vakna.
Mæðan kenna mun þér fljótt,
meðan hallar degi skjótt,
að mennirnir elska, missa, gráta og sakna
Sleep my little love,
Outside the rain is weeping.
Mummy keeps watch over your gold,
Old leg bones and a little treasure chest.
Let's not stay awake through dark nights.
There is much that darkness knows,
My mind is heavy.
Often I've seen the black sand
Scorching green meadows.
In the glacier rumbles deadly-deep cracks.
Sleep long, sleep tight,
It's best to wake up late.
Hardship will teach you soon,
While the day becomes night,
That the people love, lose, cry and mourn.
Prophetarum Presignata
Arranged by Michael McGlynn
Percussion: Noel Eccles
Prophetarum Presignata comes from the Dublin Troper which has been a part of my life for decades. It is a 14th-century manuscript that, like a time capsule, captures the chants and liturgical practices of medieval Dublin. The hymns, sequences, and tropes are more than just religious rituals; they're a testament to the artistic spirit of that time. I feel a close connection to this intricate weave of spirituality and music. This manuscript serves as a reminder that the intertwining of the sacred and artistic resonates with the complexities of my own work as a composer.
Prophetarum presignata virgo vaticinio
Super celos exaltata mater es a filio
O benedicta circumamicta varietate
Te veneratur quem imitatur angelis amica
Virginum pudica concio stella pudicicie beata
Virgo plena gaudio
Prophesised Virgin foretold of the prophets
Mother, you are exalted above the heavens by your Son.
O blessed one, clothed in colours,
You are venerated, by Him who the angels imitate.
Chaste assembly of virgins, blessed star of modesty
Virgin full of joy.
Heyr, himna smiður
Composer: Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson
Text: Kolbeinn Tumason (1173–1208)
"Heyr, himna smiður" by Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson (1938–2013), thanks to the serendipity of a performance by our friends Árstíðir in a German train station, has become a world classic. Kolbeinn Tumason wrote the original hymn text, and Sigurbjörnsson has created a setting that is quintessentially Icelandic. When we listen to this iconic hymn we become enveloped in all that wild beauty, in that unique world.
Heyr, himna smiður,
hvers skáldið biður,
komi mjúk til mín
miskunnin þín.
Því heit eg á þig,
þú hefur skaptan mig,
eg er þrællinn þinn,
þú ert Drottinn minn.
Guð, heit eg á þig,
að græðir mig,
minnst, mildingur, mín,
mest þurfum þín.
Ryð þú, röðla gramur,
ríklyndur og framur,
hölds hverri sorg
úr hjartaborg.
Gæt, mildingur, mín,
mest þurfum þín
helst hverja stund
á hölda grund.
Set, meyjar mögur,
máls efni fögur,
öll er hjálp af þér,
í hjarta mér.
Hear, Smith of the Heavens
what the poet bids,
bring soft to me
your mercy.
I beg of you,
for you created me,
I am your servant,
You are my Lord.
God, I beg of you,
heal me,
remember how great
our need of thee.
Almighty God,
Heaven’s king,
clear away human sorrow,
take it from our hearts.
Let your grace protect me
in my sore need
every moment
on this earth.
Sweet Jesus, Mary’s son,
put in my heart,
beautiful thoughts,
for all help comes from You.
Suantraí
Composer: Michael McGlynn
Text: Traditional Irish
Soloist: Aisling McGlynn
"Suantraí" serves as a reflective end-piece for the album. Our journey has taken us through landscapes both earthly and heavenly, but this song concerns itself with the intimacy of life's small, profound moments. Our journey has spanned the depths of space, the imagined worlds of Japan through to the deep-rooted traditions of Iceland and Ireland.
A ghrá na súl atá 'mo thrá
A ghrá mo chroí 'tá ghrámhar lán
Cé gur leanbh thú gan cháil
Is iomaí bua duit i ndán
Cuirfead mo rúin chun suain
Cuirfeadh mo rúin in a luí
Alleluia
A ghrian gheal thuas sa spéir ghlan thú
Is solas tú san oíche dhubh Saor - faidh tú
Saorfaidh tú ó chách an brón
'Gus béarfaidh eolas naofacht dúinn.
The love of my eyes, that is my way
The love of my heart, that is lovingly full
Though You are a child without reputation
Many achievements are in store for you
I will send my love to sleep
I will lay my love down (to rest)
You are the bright sun in the clear sky
You are a light in the dark/black of night
You shall free all from sorrow
And bring us knowledge of holiness
Translation Daithí Ó Nuanáin