ANÚNA, A Whisper of Paradise is a beautiful seasonal programme and album featuring the world-renowned ANÚNA, Ireland’s National Choir.

This very special presentation offers a selection of winter-themed music, including some of the world’s best-known Christmas carols, spanning a thousand years. ANÚNA, A Whisper of Paradise is a calming oasis of sonic purity for the Christmas season. All music is arranged and composed by ANÚNA’s Artistic Director Michael McGlynn. The music has been composed and arranged by Dublin-born composer Michael McGlynn, and while it includes many familiar Christmas carols such as “O Holy Night”, “Gaudete” and “Away in a Manger”, there are also less familiar songs for the season, including medieval carols from England, France, and Spain. Featured too are seasonal Irish Christmas carols, including the atmospheric “Wexford Carol” and two melodies from the Kilmore Carols.

The film was originally made in 2020 as part of the hugely successful online series created by the British choral group Voces8, entitled Live from London, and was filmed under the strictest COVID protocols in Dublin. It was the first time the choir had sung together for almost a year, and this sense of joy is obvious from the performance.

Michael McGlynn says, “It was a huge relief to be able to sing together after so long, and I think that is very evident from the performances given by the singers in this beautiful space, St Bartholomew’s Church in Ballsbridge. It was also a great thrill to have the performance feature my family – my wife Lucy and our children Aisling and Lauren – as part of the ensemble. I think people will find something in this for themselves, as this has been a turbulent and difficult year for many, and for the world itself.”

This film/album was recorded in Dublin’s iconic Saint Bartholomew’s Church in Ballsbridge, by far one of the country’s most beautiful sacred spaces, featuring stunning artwork and stained glass that enhance ANÚNA, A Whisper of Paradise immensely.

01. The Wexford Carol
02. O Holy Night
03. Ríú Ríú
04. An Oíche
05. The First Day
06. Gaudete
07. Away in a Manger
08. Jerusalem
09. St. Nicholas
10. Amhrán na Gaoithe/Song of the Wind
11. Dúlamán
12. Noël Nouvelet
13. Midnight
14. Pie Jesu
15. Danny Boy
16. Kells

Produced by Brian Masterson & Michael McGlynn

Engineered and recorded by Brian Masterson

Images Michael McGlynn

Sheet Music available from www.michaelmcglynn.com

© Anúna Teoranta 2025

THE WEXFORD CAROL

The origins of this text is English, but this Irish version originated in the tradition, first recorded on a broadside [a ballad sheet] which states that this version comes from the singing of Fr. Patrick Cummins in 1912, as passed on to him by his mother and grandmother.

Solo Aisling McGynn.

Good people all this Christmas time, consider well and bear in mind,
What our good God for us has done in sending his beloved Son.
With Mary holy we should pray, to God with love this Christmas day.
In Bethlehem upon that morn there was a blessed Messiah born.
Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep,
To whom God's angel did appear, and put the shepherds in great fear.
"Prepare and go", the angel said, "to Bethlehem, be not afraid,
For there you'll find, this happy morn, a princely babe, sweet Jesus born".
With thankful heart and joyful mind the shepherds went the babe to find,
And as God's angel had foretold, they did our saviour Christ behold.
Within a manger he was laid, and by his side the virgin maid
Attending on the Lord of life, who came from earth to end all strife.

O HOLY NIGHT

Text by Placide Clappeau, 1847, music by Adolphe C. Adam (1803-1856). English translation by John Sullivan Dwight (1812-1893).

Solo Andrea Delaney.

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend!

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O night divine.

THE FIRST DAY

A medieval hymn (reconstructed by Professor Brendán Ó'Madagain of University College Galway), sung to invoke Mary's protection. Framing it is an elaborate whistle melody, based on the 18th century Kilmore carol, The First day of the Year, which comes from Co. Wexford.

Solo Hannah Traynor, tin whistle Michael McGlynn.

Stiúraigh mé dod’ mholadh, cé nach ollamh mé um éigse
A ghnúis ainglí gan locht thug sú t’ochta dom réiteach
Tiomnaim mé fad’ chomairc, a bhuime mhúirneach an Aen-mhic
Is fá do scéith díon mo chorp, mo chroí, mo thoil is mh’éifeacht.
A theampaill na dtrí bpearsan, Athair Mac is Naomh Spioraid
Guím thú dom fhurtacht uair mo bhreatha is mh’éaga.
A Rioghain, dá dtug an Rí an tAthair, síorbhuíochas,
Óigheacht is bheith ad’mháthair, gabhaim do pháirt dom réiteach.
A shoithig iompair an lóchrainn, a ró-shoillse os cionn gréine
Tarraing mé fad’ dhíon i gcuan as loing diomuan an tsaoghail
A Mhuire mhodhail, mhaiseach is ceannsa, cneasta, maorga,
Ní tuirseach mé fad’ ghairm ‘S tú mo chrann bagair lá an bhaoghail.
Tell me how to praise you, although I am no master of poetry
Angelic face without stain you gave me breast milk to save me.
I throw myself on your protection, loving Mother of the one Son
Under your shield protect my body, my heart, my will and strength
Temple of three persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost
I pray to you to aid me in my hour of judgement and death.
Queen who was given by the King, the Father, thanks forever,
Motherhood and virginity, I beseech your part in my salvation.
Vessel who carries the light, great brightness that outshines the sun
Pull me under your protection, from the short journey of life.
Mary, gracious and beautiful, gentle, mild and stately
I don't tire calling to you. You defend me on the dangerous day

GAUDETE

This version Gaudete comes from the "Piae Cantiones", a 16th century collection of music used at the School of Abo in Finland.

Solo Ryan Garnham

Gaudete, Christus est natus ex Maria Virgine, Gaudete
Tempus adest gratiae hoc quod optabamus
Carmina laetitiae devotae reddamus
Deus homo factus est natura mirante
Mundus renovatus est a Christo regnante
Ezechelis porta clausa pertransitur
Unde lux est orta salus invenitur
Ergo nostro cantio psalatiam in lustro
Benedicat domino salus regi nostro

Rejoice, Christ is born from the Virgin Mary, rejoice
The time is present, that time for which we have prayed
Let us render songs of pious joy
God has been made man while nature is amazed (to the wonder of nature)
Christ the king has renewed the world
The closed door of Ezekiel is traversed
Salvation/deliverance is found from where the light has arisen.
Therefore now in our time a song resounds
Praise the Lord: salvation to our king

Away in a Manger

This text dates from the late 19th century and is probably comes from the Lutheran tradition in America, while the melody was written by by the American composer William J. Kirkpatrick [1838-1921].

Soloist Lauren McGlynn

Away in a manger,
No crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus
Lay down His sweet head:
The stars in the bright sky
Look down where He lays;
The little Lord Jesus,
Asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing,
The Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus,
No crying he makes;
I love Thee, Lord Jesus!
Look down from the sky,
And stay by my side
Until morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever,
And love me I pray;
Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven
To live with Thee there.

ST. NICHOLAS

St. Nicholas was written by the English mystic St Godric (c.1070 to 1170). Only three of Godric’s hymns survive. They are the earliest existing songs written in what would later become the modern English language.

St Nicholas, Godes druth timbray us faire scone hus
At thee burthe at thee bare St Nicholas, bring us well thare.

St. Nicholas, God’s beloved, build us a wondrous place to dwell.
At the time of birth, and at the time of death, St. Nicholas bring us safely there.

Noël Nouvelet

Solos Lauren & Aisling McGlynn

Noël nouvelet, Noël chantons icy
Dévotes gens, rendons à Dieu merci.
Chantons Noël pour le Roi nouvelet
Quand je m'ésveilly et j'eus assez dormy
Ouvris mes les yeux, vis un arbre fleuri.
Dont il issait un bouton merveilleux.
D'un oiselet bientôt le chant ouïs,
Qui aux pasteurs disait: “Partez d'ici,
En Bethleem trouverez l'agnelet”.

A new Christmas, we sing of Christmas here
Faithful people, let us shout out our thanks to God.
We sing of Christmas for the new King
When I awoke from sleep having slept long enough
I opened my eyes and saw a flowering tree.
There I saw a marvellous flower bud.
Soon we heard a song from a little bird,
who said to the shepherds: “Go from here,
In Bethlehem you will find the little Lamb”.