Transcendence (2025)
1 Dormi Jesu 03:56
2 Transcendence 05:54
3 Sanctus Santua 03:57
4 Victimae 03:24
5 Revelation 06:19
6 Mariam Matrem Virginem 03:48
7 Agnus Dei 08:15
8 Armarque cum Scuto 02:46
9 Lorica 05:28
10 Nobilis Humilis 05:09
11 Pie Jesu 02:39
In 2025 ANÚNA released the digital album Sanctum, a beautiful collection of spiritual music composed by Michael McGlynn. On November 25th 2025 we release Transcendence, originally released in a different form some years ago, now remastered with new additions - a second sublime and meditative collection of spiritual and ritualistic compositions created by Michael. It is available to order now on CD and for digital download exclusively from Bandcamp and coming to all streaming platforms on January 31st.
Many of the works featured were commissioned from Michael. “Transcendence” was commissioned by University College Dublin for its 150 Anniversary, “Dormi Jesu” from Kultursamverkan Svenska kyrkan, “Lorica” by the Scottish vocal ensemble Canty and “Agnus Dei” from Chanticleer. Anúna infuse their own unique vocal colour into these beautiful works.
“This album is a collection of transcendent music that has been hidden, in some ways, within our repertoire” McGlynn says. “It is very easy, and somewhat lazy, to label and categorise the work of ANÚNA, but the legacy of performance and quality of the music is evident on this release and I have to admit that it was a surprise for me to see the coherency of musical language spanning across the album.
I have seen many of my spiritual compositions as dramatic presentations, even if only in my own head, and the influence of the Early music is pretty evident across this album.”
Included on this release is the dramatic “Revelation” (2015), an apocalyptic vision of Archangels, while “Mariam Matrem Virginem” (1995) has become a viral sensation this year through performances by the French vocal ensemble Les Itinérants.
DORMI JESU (2011)
Lucy Champion (soloist)
This is a very famous medieval Latin Christmas lullaby traditionally attributed to the Franciscan tradition (sometimes linked to St. Bonaventure or the 15th-century German Franciscan milieu). It appears in numerous late-medieval and Renaissance manuscripts and was especially popular in Germany, Bohemia, and England. One of the earliest printed sources is the 1537 Cantuale of Johann Leisentrit (a Catholic hymnbook published during the Reformation period to preserve Catholic hymns). It also appears in the 1582 Piae Cantiones collection (the famous Finnish/Swedish student songbook that preserved many medieval Latin songs)
Commissioned by Kultursamverkan Svenska kyrkan and dedicated with much affection to the Ringlander family.
Dormi Jesu Mater ridet, quae tam dulcem somnum videt,
Dormi Jesu blandule.
Si non dormis, mater plorat.Inter fila cantans orat:
Blande veni somnule.
Sleep, Jesus, the Mother smiles, for she sees such sweet sleep; sleep, sweet little Jesus.
If you do not sleep, the Mother weeps; while singing at her spinning, she prays: “Come gently, little sleep.”
TRANSCENDENCE (2005)
Sharon Carty & Lynn Hilary (soloists)
John Henry Newman (1801–1890), the founder of what is now University College Dublin, wrote this text in 1852. Commissioned for UCD Choral Scholars by the College
I am turning my eyes towards a hundred years to come
And I dimly see the island I am gazing on
Become the road of passage and union between the two hemispheres,
And the centre of the world.
Lux aeterna luceat eis
Let eternal light shine upon them
VICTIMAE (1999)
Text from the 14th Century Irish manuscript of The Dublin Play.
Victimae paschali laudes immolant Cristiani. Laudes. Agnus Dei.
Let all Christians offer praise to the Paschal victim. Lamb of God.
REVELATION (2015)
Andrea Delaney & Lucy Champion (solo voices)
Text from Revelation 7:1.
Archangeli. Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel. Salva nos, Libera nos.
Post hæc vidi quattuor Angelos stantes super quattuor angulos terræ, tenentes quattuor ventos terræ ne flarent super terram, neque super mare, neque in ullam arborem.
Archangels. Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel. Protect us, deliver us.
And after these things I saw four Angels standing on the four corners of the Earth, holding the four winds of the land, so that the wind may not blow upon the land, nor upon the sea, nor upon any tree.
MARIAM MATREM VIRGINEM (1995)
Monica Donlon (soloist)
This is a fragment from the hymn “Ave Maris Stella”, specifically the sixth stanza
Maria Matrem virginem natura mirante. Tu quae genuisti.
Ave peccatorum miserere.
Mary, Virgin Mother, while nature stands in awe. You who have borne (the Maker of the world). Hail, have mercy on sinners.
AGNUS DEI (2006)
Michael McGlynn (solo voice)
Commissioned by Chanticleer for the multi-composer work And on Earth, Peace: a Chanticleer Mass.
A Uain Dé, a thógas peacaí an domhain, déan trócaire orainn
A Uain Dé, a thógas peacaí an domhain, tabhair dúinn síocháin.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
ARMARQUE CUM SCUTO (1999)
Paul Maher (Percussion)
Armaque cum scuto prendens hunc Christe iuvato
Pax fido populo, regi sit gloria summo
Ac nostram secum naturam vexit eodem.
And grasping shield and arms, O Christ, help this man.
Grant peace to thy faithful people; to the highest King be glory,
Who bore our very nature with Himself to that same [heavenly] throne.
LORICA (2007)
Anne-Marie O’Farrell (Irish Harp)
Conducted by Dr Stacie Rossow
Ad Temoriam hodie potentiam praepolentem invoco Trinitatis
Apud Temoriam hodie virtutem Nativitatis Christi cum eia eius baptismi
Apud Temoriam hodie virtutem amoris Seraphim in obsequio angelorum.
I bind to myself today the great power of an invocation to the Trinity
I bind to myself today the power of the incarnation of Christ
I bind to myself today the power of Seraphim’s love and the obedience of the angels.
Inspirat omnia, vivificat omnia,
Superat omnia, suffulcit omnia
He inspires all things, He makes all things grow
He is above all things, He supports all things.
Críst limm, Críst reum, Críst im degaid, Críst in-dium, Críst ísum,
Críst uasum, Críst desum, Críst tuathum
Críst i cridiu cech duini immumrorda, Críst i ngin cech oín rodom-
labrathar,
Críst i cech rusc nonom-dercathar, Críst i cech cluais rodom-
chloathar.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me, Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth
of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.
NOBILIS HUMILIS (1996)
Lucy Champion (Solo voice)
Superba namque colla gentilium
virtute Sancti Spiritus humiliavit
For indeed he has laid low the proud necks of the gentiles (nations),
by the strength of the Holy Spirit.
Nobilis Humilis,
Magne martyr stabilis
Habilis, utilis, comes venerabilis
Et tutor laudabilis tuos subditos
Serva carnis fragilis mole positos
Praeditus, caelitus, dono sancti spiritus.
Vivere temere summo caves opere
Carnis motus premere, studes penitus,
Ut carnis in carcere, regnet spiritus.
Turbidus, invidus, hostis Haco callidus,
Sternere, terere, tua sibi subdere
Te cupit et perdere, doli spiculo.
Iuncto fraudis federe, pacis osculo
Noble yet humble, great martyr steadfast,
Fit for all good, helpful, a companion most venerable,
And a protector worthy of all praise:
keep safe thy subjects placed in this frail flesh’s heavy burden.
Endowed from heaven with the gift of the Holy Spirit,
thou takest utmost care never to live recklessly;
thou strivest utterly to crush the impulses of the flesh,
so that, even in the prison of the flesh, the spirit may reign supreme.
The turbulent, envious enemy, that cunning Haakon,
longs to overthrow thee, to trample thee,
to bring thee under his power and destroy thee with the sharp arrow of deceit.
Bound by a covenant of treachery, he offers the kiss of peace.
PIE JESU (1998)
Monica Donlon (solo voice)
Dedicated to the memory of Jonathan McCullough and all who died in the Troubles.
Pie Jesu, Domine: Dona eis requiem: Dona eis requiem sempiternam
Merciful Jesus, Master: Grant them rest: Grant them everlasting rest