LIVE REVIEWS
The human search for the mystical
Musical encounters of a different kind
Lörrach, Germany on July 15th. 1997 appeared in Oberbadisches Volksblatt.
by Helga Craubner.
Light glimmers through the mist, candles flicker in the darkness. Sounds from another world can be heard. They come from every direction, fill the space and slip through your ears right into your mind. The Irish group Anúna presents the public in St Peter's Church with a musical encounter of a different kind.
The 16-strong group from Dublin was a guest at this year's choral festival. With the leadership of their enterprising director, Michael McGlynn, the choir set out 10 years ago on the search for the roots of their own tradition. As the first written musical documents date from around 900AD, this is no mean task. This difficulty is very evident in Anúna's performance. The oldest songs which they can trace are spiritual ones. We hear the Gregorian chants, enlivened by a background choir and we come across well-known names such as the monk Notker from St. Gall and Hildegarde of Bingen.
As well as this there are traditional Irish, Scottish and English songs from the 16th, 18th and even the 20th century. They tell of lonely women, whose lovers go off to war or to America. There is a couple who are in love but cannot marry, because they are of different religions. Melancholy and lament are woven through the unembellished melodies which are beautiful in their simplicity. These are the voices of professionals who can restrain themselves so that they sound completely natural and the atmosphere does not deteriorate into bel canto wailing.
Atmosphere is the most important concept for Anúna. Whatever they cannot offer in truly ancient music, they make up for by their professional, stylish performance. Dim diffused light, smoke effects, candles, long flowing gowns, delicate beautiful women and broad-shouldered serious men are all brought together by extensive choreography.
Everything intermingles perfectly and plumbs previously hidden depths in the listeners. Doesn't this need for mysticism which lies deep within us and seems so long forgotten, not start to reawaken?
This is exactly what Anúna's show targets. The figures and the music move as if they are connected to some higher power that is leading them. This seems to be the case even in the amusing tongue-twisting dance songs. How can anyone enunciate these complicate syllables and sing at the same time ?
The fact that Anúna's performances sell successfully lies in this union of professionalism, mysticism and not least the Celtic "concept".