ANÚNA : The Coventry Carol (arr. Michael McGlynn)

Spotify : tinyurl.com/y4...
Facebook : / anunachoir
Instagram : / anunaofficial
iTunes : / anúna
Apple Music : tinyurl.com/y4...
website : www.anuna.ie
sheet music : www.michaelmcgl...
Soloists Rachel Thompson, Lucy Champion & Miriam Blennerhassett.
Recorded live at Saint Bartholomew's Church, Dublin December 2015

[@sandie157]

Such singing is indeed, prayer

[@anunachoir]

+Blossom Sanders not really. It may generate a response in listeners that enhances prayer. For us it is about telling the story. Being true to the poet, the writer. Becoming part of the song in a wonderful way.

[@iqueenbee1]

Lullay, Thou little tiny Child Bye, bye, lully, lullay Lullay, Thou little tiny Child Bye, bye, lully, lullay O sisters, too, how may we do For to preserve this day; This poor Youngling for whom we sing Bye, bye, lully, lullay Herod the King, in his raging Charged he hath this day; His men of might, in his own sight All children young, to slay Then woe is me, poor Child, for Thee And ever mourn and say For Thy parting, nor say nor sing Bye, bye, lully, lullay Lullay, Thou little tiny Child Bye, bye, lully, lullay Lullay, Thou little tiny Child Bye, bye, lully, lullay

[@thiscommentgoestoabout4721]

Yay 👏👏👏👏

[@soupdragon151]

From the medieval mystery play The Pageant of the Shearmen and Taylors. Its sung by the wormen as Herod's soldiers come to slay the innocents.

[@Boleskinebeatz]

Perfect... how can anyone dislike this ? 🙄

[@leedengler]

One of the holiest moments in music is the silence that follows the final cutoff. I wish the audience had delayed their applause so that moment could have been experienced and honored.

[@central_scrutinizr]

I always wish the final note could be allowed to reverberate fully until it naturally extinguishes, followed by silence to soak in the emotions. Applause immediately after robs us of that. It always breaks the immersion.

[@machelconsidine7611]

When an audience does react with a few seconds of silence, it always gives me chills and usually tears well up as well. A guest choir director told my choir "mind of ice, heart of fire" and I've never forgotten it even though it was 30 years ago!

[@morriganravenchild6613]

This is incredibly beautiful.....I have tears on my cheeks.......

[@danielw5850]

Mine too. I always listen to this on Christmas Eve, the solemn antidote to “Retail Hell - BUY SHIT, BUY SHIT...”

[@shmoogie31]

I love this song. My Mom used to sing this song to my siblings and I every night at bedtime. I have found memories of this song. Hearing tonight for the first time in a long time, I am brought to tears. This song is so beautiful and haunting. Powerful , yet elegant. Merry Christmas all. Be well, and be safe. Here's to a happy 2022! ❤

[@matthewhopkins7042]

I can't help but notice the menorah front and centre in a Christian church singing a Christian carol. Kind of disgusting. Worse still they have it literally placed atop a Christian grave, desecrating it and the church. I hang my head in shame at what we allow them to do to us, the ritual humiliation of our people and our faith at the hands of the subversive evil.

[@MarciaMatthews]

This ancient Carol was composed by a guild for a festival. Dedicated to the children of Sandy Hook.

[@PatriceFitzgerald]

You are ignorant, antisemitic, or both. Take a look at your Bible and revelations 1:12 for the seven candlesticks.

[@IexoPeoa]

@@matthewhopkins7042 That's not a grave, Jews follow the same God Christians do, the menorah has been part of it since the time of Moses and was designed by God (Exodus 25:31-40, Numbers 8:1-4), and the carol is a lament for the slaughter of Jewish babies by a Roman-installed puppet king.

[@nadomaya37]

A beautiful carol, but seems an odd choice for a lullaby… the story of children being slaughtered. Did you ever understand the words when you were little?

[@m33cav]

God bless those innocents. A mesmerising rendition.

[@anunachoir]

You do know the story isn't actually true.

[@m33cav]

anuanus you do know I don’t care what you actually think.

[@anunachoir]

You don't know what I think. Unless you are a stalker. Then you might. The more I think about it the more terrifying it becomes. You will probably be relieved that I didn't know you didn't care. Or maybe I did...

[@Jabberstax]

Beautiful girls with beautiful voices singing my favourite carol. ❤🙏

[@gunnarthorsen]

An ancient, haunting carol, beautifully performed. It's often associated with medieval Coventry Cathedral, which was bombed by the Germans during WW2. In retaliation, the British bombed the medieval town of Nurnberg in Germany, destroying 800 years of history in 30 minutes, and not long after, they also bombed the city of Dresden and its 18th century Church of Our Lady. 2,000 years of Christmas, with its beauty, tenderness and hope, and still, we humans take little from it and rage; like Herod the king.

[@ElsaBorzoi]

By hitting "like" I am not "liking" it. So much sadness and unnecessary destruction. I hate war.

[@jayhillrubis]

"War is a nescesary evil created by mans selfishness and greed. The time will come when every avenue of conflict has been exhausted, only then will mankind choose of its own free will the avenue of peace. In the past many were called but few were chosen and of that few very few became God Realized. In the near future many will be taken, the time is close so think of me everyday so when you breathe your last breath you will have my name on your lips, choose only one incarnation of God in human form, find the riot core teaching of love I give in every advent, do not dilute your attention on many incarnations" (paraphrased) - Avatar Meher Baba, the same Ancient One known in the past as Rama, Krishna, Zoroaster, Mohammed, Buddha, Jesus, The first Soul to come out of illusion, The Being of All Beings. Love Personified 💖

[@edeledeledel5490]

@@TheJoeman11 There will always be men like Hitler - narcissists with no conscience or empathy - look no farther than Donald J Trump

[@AslansMane88]

@@edeledeledel5490 Lemons and Lions are both yellow, so they must be the same.

[@AslansMane88]

In truth, both sides had little choice in where the bombs landed. I think a broken cathedral is a small price to pay for the death of Nazism. Would they have rebuilt it? Or worshipped Christ in it? And would Christ have accepted it from them? I suspect no in all cases.

[@booterspruce4755]

Exquisitely arranged and sung. The form of the melody, while definitively somber, repeatedly "responds" to itself with expectant notes of hope...and so must humanity, respond to "thy little tiny (Christ) child" with prayerfulness and hope.

[@mavisemberson8737]

The massacre of the innocents by Herod's men in Bethlehem and surrounding area?

[@anunachoir]

The story is fake and our intent is probably the key to this. It is a universal cry of loss, applicable to our world as much as that it came from.

[@paulsurbitonryan9632]

My God...this is so powerful...it resonates on ever level...those who are children themselves ... those on the verge of growing up... those who have loved and lost and will depart this world childless... those who are mothers who know pain and joy... so united in brokenness... the cowardice of men and soldiers against defenceless babies... the solidarity of broken women who sound like angels... the dark lullaby that rocks hearts to sleep and some to sleep for evermore... the dark divide traversed by a lullaby... a child is never truly alone... Sisters indeed... know that there are brothers who weep with you.

[@johnhaggerty4396]

As far as I know there is no historic evidence for the slaughter of the innocents, and I speak as one who believes in the historicity of the Gospels, the Incarnation, and the integrity of the canonical works of the New Testament, as did the theologians who influenced me - Benjamin Warfield, Gresham Machen, Carl Henry, Jim Packer, R.C. Sproul, Donald Macleod. This is the dark divide traversed by a medieval lullaby as you say so memorably, haunting and exquisitely sung by Anuna. The narrative is appalling and true to the world of Later Antiquity. Because there is no evidence outside the Gospels for this atrocity does not mean it never happened, alas.

[@CP-ll6qg]

@@johnhaggerty4396 true--but I don't think the spirit of this comment is really affected by the historical accuracy (or lack thereof) of the event. They're talking about emotions (and how brutal humans can be) and solidarity basically, they don't really claim the story is fact.

[@Andrew-iv5dq]

@@johnhaggerty4396 I hear you, but you have to be careful about historical sources in antiquity. We all learn about the Punic Wars and take them as fact, yet from what I have been told, all of our sources for this derive from a single source. Now that being said, having Herod go after all the baby boys in an attempt to kill Jesus before all the scary prophecies come to be sounds a lot like a twisted echo of the killing of the first born sons in Egypt, AND just the kind of antisemitic trope we might expect from the middle ages in Europe.

[@marilynbrown5274]

There is. When I was in Israel ..A journalist showed me a closed off room. He said it contained the baby bones..of th einfants killed by Herod. Later..I read an article detailing exactly that room.@@johnhaggerty4396

[@siobhananeinigh5573]

Just wanted to say, thank you guys so much for putting these gorgeous pieces out there! I'm a medieval recreationist who sings both in ensembles and solo (bard), and absolutely love your arrangements for songs such as this, Gaudete, etc!

[@HamiltonRowan-r6z]

This is music! Not what passes for 90% of Christian song these days.

[@kellymontgomery1293]

you nailed it. it is, actually, a sad song, and the black dresses and candles do express that. very well done. thank you

[@anunachoir]

We've been wearing these since around 1989, so it wasn't opportunitistic.

[@IrishAnnie]

My favorite. I love this song. Powerful and serene at the same time.

[@mikelinehan7693]

Enchantingly Hauntingly sorrowful, only just found this hymn in my 47 years, now my favourite

[@hopedspiller2172]

The best version ever!!!!

[@robertmcbride1859]

Absolutely beautiful. One of my favourite Carols.

[@Anna-dl3ys]

Absolutely perfect pitch and harmony. One of my favorite Christmas carols.

[@jeannecastellano7181]

Simply lovely! You rightfully allow it to have a timelessness through your musical arrangement and a cappella. Anonymous 4 is also superb with this type of music.

[@anunachoir]

Yes - they are wonderful. Thank you.

[@charlespeterson4438]

I can now say I have seen and heard angels.

[@celestecaldwell957]

Beautiful

[@WaterfaerysDomain]

I would have to agree completely.

[@ScottMcDavid-Music]

This is masterful. Brilliant! Wonderful tones and harmonies. Knowing the story behind the carol, I could not keep from weeping.......... just awesome arranging and performance.

[@bruceerogan3662]

What's the story behind the Carol?

[@anunachoir]

You'll find versions online on Google of what it means Bruce

[@matthewhopkins7042]

@@anunachoir Why is there a menorah in the center? Whose idea was that? In a Christian church, singing a Christian carol, placed atop a Christian grave no less?

[@countesscable]

@@matthewhopkins7042it’s not a Menorah

[@anunachoir]

Its a candlestick Matthew. In Ireland such things don't worry us at all.

[@grahamalexander9956]

How on earth can you not like this Wonderful

[@RobinOzero]

This is so beautiful, it makes me cry, probably one av the best pieces av musik I have ever experienced...❤ Takk fyrir!!

[@r.i.p.volodya]

What a stunning arrangement - well done Michael McGlynn - one doesn't want to breathe lest one disturbs the atmosphere - beautiful 😍

[@monicanath4859]

This is just divine!

[@LJ7000]

You shouldn't clap and applaud at the end of such a song like moderns audience do. If you're not weeping, you should be in contemplative silence.

[@anunachoir]

There is no should. This is from a concert not a church service, but you make a valid point about the need to applaud. Personally I just want to listen.

[@rickywheeler6054]

Breathtakingly beautiful. Praises be to Christ Jesus 🙏 Amen.

[@zitabraun1176]

It like I can smell the incense.

[@rachelmclinden3995]

Chorus (after each verse): Lully lulla thou little tiny child By by lully lullay Thou little tiny child By by lully lullay Oh sisters two, how may we do For to preserve this day This poor youngling for whom we do sing By by lully lullay Herod the king, in his raging Charged he hath this day His men of might in his own sight All young children to slay That woe is me, poor child for thee And ever mourn and sigh For thy parting, neither say nor sing By by lully lullay

[@TheDellaniOakes]

Beautifully done, ladies! The harmony is perfect.

[@saskiapanter]

Saw and heard you all tonight in the concerthall inTilburg, breathtakingly beautifull. This one is one of my most favorite Christmas songs. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@caloricphlogistonandthelum4008]

Ya bastard! Fucking Brilliant!

[@caloricphlogistonandthelum4008]

I'm going to listen to this for ten thousand years.

[@bigolboomerbelly4348]

Yeah

[@spierce700]

Mat 2:18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

[@joeo3808]

Truly amazing

[@bashkillszombies]

Why is there a menorah in the middle of the room? When will Anuna bring a menorah into a mosque? Double dog dare them to.

[@tomwashingtonjr848]

Beautiful ❤️ 😇 ❤️

[@HistoryandHeadlines]

Beautiful arrangement and performance!

[@danielw5850]

The antidote to the retail onslaught of, “Buy shit, buy shit - it’s Christmas, buy stuff for your gratification” - this message is the most beautiful gift (minus a plastic bag)

[@theMMAdhatter]

Nothing says "Christmas" like a mothers' lament for the victims of mass infanticide

[@michaelmiller1215]

Astonishing mix of modal-based and totally modern harmonies and dissonance. Breathtaking.

[@anunachoir]

+Michael Miller thank you :-)

[@lauracarr6939]

So gorgeous! A capella is always stunning.

[@nadiabirkenstock_harpsong]

Amazing. Thak you for sharing this.

[@hudsonbailey674]

My deepest gratitude to my many visits to this carol, ANUNA-M'ANAM. Happiest of Christmases and New Years (2021).

[@Takato2527]

Here I am Looking for the Christmas hymn I liked so much as a kid This is not one of them As I've never heard of it till now But whatever, added to my Christmas song list, anyway! Also great song! I love it! Sorrowful yet hopeful tone!

[@alaindavid166]

Thank you so much for your wonderful talent, tears come to my eyes when I listen to your song so harmonious and so perfect, thank you again for your work, receive all my congratulations and my admiration! :-)

[@janeburrows3172]

Beautiful. Thank you.

[@sapper82]

Exquisite!

[@enarmoniacoral3548]

Lovely! Greetings from Spain.

[@sglpaul]

That is absolutely beautiful. I'd never heard that until today.

[@steeevealbright]

wow

[@talthan]

some really pretty and talented ladies

[@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

Nice version!

[@dwhitman3092]

WONDEROUS....

[@MarciaMatthews]

Chills.

[@dizzythedragonite1480]

so pretty! it sounds similar to my church's choir (they sing gregorian chants and other classic Catholic music)

[@Ken_Weber_organist]

any one of these wonderful lady's could be RACHEL 2000 years later

[@franz4750]

なんて美しいメロディー、歌声

[@danmoth5126]

Goosebumps!

[@lisas3545]

Lucy Champion has such a beautiful soprano voice. Powerful, yet sweet, innocent, and majestic.

[@SueKershawMosaic]

Born of Coventry I love this carol and this must be the most moving rendition I have heard.

[@matthewhopkins7042]

God bless you, I am sorry for what your country has done to your homeland, and I beg forgiveness as a man on behalf of your men for not standing up and fighting the invasion and setting things right. You have more invaders per hour than you endured during the entire viking invasion, and while you're arrested for going to your mailbox during lockdown there was a steady flow exploiting that of ten times the amount. Our great grandchildren would think poorly of us for what we have allowed but the reality is our great grandchildren will never exist and even if they did they'd be so utterly brainwashed into us indigenous people being the 'enemy' for wanting to exist they'd hate us anyway.

[@carolarrucciossining5712]

I'd love to know if there is a published version of this arrangement. Please provide a link. Simply beautiful.

[@anunachoir]

Yes - www.michaelmcglynn.com

[@autumn2Bsilenced]

Very gothic like. With all black dresses and a candles... Lol I like it. Very Haunting.

[@estherkessler]

autumn2Bsilenced, this song is from the 14th century

[@Ken_Weber_organist]

@Sam Farnsworth they all could be RACHEL

[@anunachoir]

And it never happened - and this should be considered when listening to the original.

[@Dermacrosis]

The most horrific and terrifying thing is a singer song writer has felt the need to for all intents and purposes update this with "Come, Little one". I was born in the 70s and grew up in the 80s and I had high hopes for the future and now all I can say is my hopes are dashed. Maybe it is time for another asteroid impact, not something I ever thought I would say, because now it seems to me it is time we went the way of the dinos. I would like to hear their version of that song.

[@PanzerLehr88]

**BEAUTIFUL** ❤ *

[@scot60]

The brunette third from the right is amazing. She is singing a low register and I can clearly hear her. Such a beautiful arrangement

[@localreviewking134]

They are all amazing. Such talent and a joy to the ears.

[@poetryjones7946]

Child mortality was so high during medieval times. Heartbreaking song. 🎄

[@anunachoir]

Yes. This song isn't about that. But good to know anyway.

[@Andrew-iv5dq]

Yeah, this is about the massacre of the Holy Innocents. Herod was so afraid of what he heard about Jesus that he had all the infants rounded up and slaughtered. This text is a mother saying goodbye to her baby because he was to be killed tomorrow.

[@anunachoir]

It isn't a true story - as someone else has posted in the comments - it is an allegory, or could even be political - but it is a beautiful song.

[@smeagolthebulldog]

Being from Coventry, this touched my heart.

[@uncleambient]

Same here

[@XX-gy7ue]

MERRY 👼 CHRISTMAS

[@CatalystChris]

Ahh I miss the church.

[@anunachoir]

Just the church? Well, we thought we had a budding member in the making HAH!

[@CatalystChris]

Man I almost went back and edited my comment because I KNEW. The guilt washes over me like the goose bumps from jumping in the ocean. I ALSO MISS THE PEOPLE. And the singing. And jumping in the ocean. And breakfast.

[@anunachoir]

And the jumping in the water.

[@Gilfanon-2]

I know nothing of your background, but I bet they'd welcome you back with open arms, irrespective of where you are at present. To me, the church is essential if one wishes to follow The One that Herod the king was trying to murder.

[@Quarton]

Just "Do It"! You'll be glad you did!! . . . and welcome!

[@kathleenalarid1150]

Oh so beautiful and yet so sad. Brings tears to me every time I hear this song.

[@NoferTrunions]

This carol forms the emotional basis for the movie Byzantium.

[@MrElladion]

Beyond words...

[@cf-kw5qo]

So beautifully sung .

[@arhr2713]

I found out about this song thanks to a Japanese doctor

[@mayacubarle9031]

and the young patient

[@blodau61]

What a lovely arrangement of such a poignant carol.

[@ivoncruz3441]

The best soloist is the blondie girl

[@yodalayheehoo5447]

Wundebar

[@sanjuro66]

Wow! One of your "leads" sounds like Éabha McMahon. Nice arrangement!

[@anunachoir]

Really? No - none of them do Henry. I'm sure Eabha would agree whole heartedly.

[@sanjuro66]

I think it's her Alto voice that reminds me of her

[@anunachoir]

Rachel is actually a very high soprano who sings professionally in the Netherlands as a choral singer. There really is no stylistic connection - but we hear what we want to in the end :-)

[@sanjuro66]

Maybe wishful thinking, since Eabha was on of my favorites along with Lynn. Then again, maybe i'm becoming tone deaf as I get older. ;) LOLOL!

[@Didishie]

ANÚNA In the Netherlands? I live here and would love to see more of her, could you be so kind and tell me where I can find more information on her?

[@frederico1579]

Muitas versões algumas melhores que outras mas a a canção de Natal mais bonita de sempre!❤️

[@mrsstrople]

Chilling

[@gloiven]

pretty and such. easy on the ears.

[@Deedee-ee1sg]

Coventry carol has always been a favourite of mine! It wasn't included in any recent carols services on tv. Shame! This is a nice version.

[@anunachoir]

No. It tends to be ignored by many. It needs the space and most people use complex arrangements to say things. Words, melody - bit of harmonic interest - that's all you need.

[@trhendricks2216]

A beautiful and haunting piece. This carol was meant to be sung in a cathedral. Thank you 😊

[@mavisemberson8737]

It was meant to be sung on a pageant in a procession in Coventry not in a church.The processions of pageants was an annual parade of craftsmen many depicted biblical scenes .

[@Wotsitorlabart]

@@mavisemberson8737 Yes. Some people seem to just make things up.

[@briansmith-l1q]

wow

[@esmeraldaslifefandango7594]

Such a wonderful performance.

[@veronicacharnley3342]

Beautiful arrangement and performance!

[@valerieselau7384]

I really loved the harmonies too.

[@green0451]

Wonderfull! God bless you.

[@anm6049]

Incredible!!! Such a beautiful rendition!!!

[@leposavamunns7543]

Love

[@chrisr7143]

Doesn’t get much better than that, thank you!!

[@theeverydayprepper7673]

Magical! Inspired! Blessed!

[@sollyolly9547]

Wonderful performance, gorgeous English beauties. Looking forward to the winter season and the related music!

[@anunachoir]

??? This group is Irish - or at least most of them were on this one ...

[@sollyolly9547]

@@anunachoir whoops, sorry!

[@jpwilliams6926]

hauntingly beautiful

[@peteralbert1485]

Gorgeous. Thank you for uploading this video and my spirits.

[@thomasmurray3920]

Transported in time and place… ❤️

[@b.r.holmes6365]

Stunning and hauntingly beautiful

[@gulsenoztosun9453]

This is one of my favorite Carols! Thank you Anuna!

[@michaelgoldman1433]

Beautiful singing

[@spitfirehurricane7196]

Truly stunning, I cannot wait to see you guys live one day

[@PanJasnovidec]

Stunning indeed, but I don't see any "guys"; they all look like women (and the flower of Irish womanhood) to me. :-))

[@halsawyer9930]

Showing you age. "Guys" hasn't meant exclusively men for a generation.

[@anunachoir]

In Ireland a group of people are "lads" or "guys".

[@peterjeffery8495]

ANUNA you should rip out this video and repost it without the heretical anti Semitic modern-revisionist hateful bullshit comments by the gadflies that have flocked here. This is a beautiful piece of music meant to reflect profound mourning. This isn't a history forum, this is 2000 year old Soul Music. People need to simply go along with what it intends to reflect and feel there way along through the piece. The Herod's a Villain-Herrod's a Saint discourse belongs on some other channel, not here.

[@anunachoir]

You are right - this is an interpretation of a song about loss that has a contemporary resonance and ANÚNA make zero attempt to either perform it as it would originally have been done. We see in things what we want to. Its historical context is relevant - otherwise it loses its meaning as far as I am concerned. Personally I take it as a song about loss - and that is enough. people who are offensive get booted off our channel when we can find the comments.

[@peterjeffery8495]

@@anunachoir Thanks for your thoughtful response. I agree that the historical context of the song is important. The actual historical details, to me, are not, at least not on your channel. I read something defending Herod and invoking the term "Fake News, disclaiming "the facts"of the story as we have known it. To me the comments were disrespectful especially to those who believe this to be a sacred piece of music. I am a new subscriber & I love your work. Just wondering if you have done a version of "The Huron Carol". As a Canadian this is a sacred piece of Christmas music, written by a Saint no less. Love to here your version. Cheers.

[@anunachoir]

I know it. I'll find the shite comments as they pass me by.