Interview with Hamamatsu Cultural Promotion Foundation [2015]

Original Article in Japanese is HERE

Please share your thoughts on Japan.

Japan is very multifaceted and profound, and it's impossible to describe its impression in a single word, but in terms of spirituality, it has something different from any other country. It may be natural for Japanese people, but I think the "meticulousness" of Japanese people is unparalleled. By paying thorough attention to detail, a unique Japanese aesthetic is born, and it works functionally. Anúna has performed all over the world, but I think the "meticulousness" of Japanese people is particularly noteworthy.

Tell us about Ireland. Are there any similarities between Japan and Ireland?

The biggest similarity between Japan and Ireland is their connection to the earth, or the connection between people and nature. This is something I always feel when I come to Japan. Ireland is also an island nation surrounded by the sea, with a similar climate. In addition, the Irish people, while being Catholic, originally believed in polytheism, worshipping many gods of nature, similar to the Japanese. This can be understood by unraveling Ireland's history. Some aspects that have been lost in other European countries still remain in Ireland, and I think these form a unique culture. However, I don't think these similarities between the two countries create cultural or musical commonalities. What is important is that Japanese people have a rich sensitivity and appreciation for beautiful music, and our feelings, or "hearts," resonate with Japanese people, allowing us to empathize with each other more deeply. Japanese people can understand us through our songs and feel our artistry.

Michael McGlynn, representative of Anúna What are the characteristics of Anúna?

Two years ago, Yumi Matsutoya, a Japanese singer, came to cover a performance of Anúna held at a church in Dublin for a Japanese TV program. We wore medieval costumes and performed with candles in hand. This performance style is the basic and distinctive feature of Anúna. For a quarter of a century, we have developed our own choral method with the belief that we want to convey and share beautiful things with people in the simplest way possible. As singers, not only the beauty of the voice but also understanding and conveying the meaning of the songs, and being beautiful in appearance and behavior are required. People are moved when they see beautiful things. Each choral group performs in their own way, but the most distinctive feature of the Anúna method is that there is no conductor, and each singer takes on their role. We also emphasize performing the core aspects of breathing and vocalization as naturally as possible. By exposing the parts that we forget or consciously hide as we grow, like children do, we aim to draw out the essence of the singer. It is important to be natural and free.

This time, we have heard that there are special Japanese songs "Sakura Sakura" and "Princess Mononoke" in the program.

"Sakura Sakura" is a song from the Edo period, and I have heard that it is a song about the repetitive activities of nature. Despite its simple notes, I was moved by the wonderful meaning of the poetry and chose this song. As a composer, I connected these elements and tailored the work because there is a shared poetic culture in Ireland. Another song is the theme song of Miyazaki's anime "Princess Mononoke." This anime has various themes, but there is no villain. Nature is depicted as originally beautiful, but in this work, there are gruesome scenes in various places, setting it apart from other works. I am a fan of Miyazaki's work, and I was impressed by the great melody, easy-to-understand words, and the wonderful singing voice of the counter-tenor (Mikiya Mera). My children also love this work and theme song, and even children in Ireland understand it in their own way and feel some connection.

I think the audience who comes to listen to Anúna's performance this time will be surprised by the completely different performance style and atmosphere from the image of chorus they had before. The venue and stage of Anúna truly become one. Also, this time, we have planned a collaboration with wonderful local children.

Please come to the venue.

Founded in 1987 by Dublin composer Michael McGlynn with the concept of "reviving medieval Irish music in the modern era," Anúna is a mixed-voice choir of men and women. Michael has unearthed various medieval Irish chants, popular traditional songs, original songs, and more. The lyrics skillfully combine Latin, English, and Gaelic, presenting medieval songs in contemporary and sometimes surreal arrangements. They participated in the initial Riverdance world tour, reached No. 1 on the Irish chart and the top 10 on the UK chart, enjoying worldwide popularity.

The membership has been fluid since its inception, with nearly 100 singers participating in Anúna over time (including Celtic Woman's Méav and Lynn Hilary for a while). Currently, the group consists of 10-17 young singers.

Translation by ChatGPT 4