Caoineadh na Maighdine : the Virgin's lament [sound recording]

Description: The union between the well-respected Irish singer Nóirín Ní Riain and the monks of Glenstal is a perfect one. Ní Riain's lovely soprano tenderly chimes over the monks' deeper vocal blanket as they sing medieval Celtic religious songs in the sean nos or "old style" tradition--subtly varying enunciation and tempo. Singing in Gaelic and Latin Gregorian plainchant, Ní Riain delicately wavers and flies throughout Limerick's Glenstal Abbey, creating an angelic and purely holy atmosphere. On closer listen, it's actually the Glenstal monks who occasionally have trouble keeping up with Ní Riain's vocal mastery--though their lower, male voices provide a refreshing, grounding counterpart to her delicate, high tone. The last track, "The Blessed Virgin's Keening," offers a particular highlight of the extraordinary call-and-response littered throughout this album. One of the Glenstal monks takes the solo male vocal and the result is a lovely, repetitive, mass like conclusion to the CD. Ní Riain has also authored books on Celtic culture and Gregorian chant. --Karen Karleski

Tracks:
Caoineadh Mhuire (Mary's Keen)
Gol Na DTri Muire (The Weeping Of The Three Marys)
The Darkest Midnight
Seacht NDolas Na Maighdine Muire Uibh Rathach (The Seven Sarrows Of The Virgin Mary I)
An Bhainis Phosta A Bhi I GCana (The Wedding Feast At Cana)
Seacht NDolas Na Maighdine Muire (The Seven Sorrows Of The Virgin Mary II)
An Caoineadh (The Keen)
Caoineadh Na HAoine (Friday Lament)
Posadh Naofa Cana (The Holy Wedding At Cana)
Destera Domini (The Lord's Right Hand)
Caoneadhi Na Maighdine (The Blessed Virgin's Keening)

FY2000 /