The Virgin's Lament (Caoineadhi Na Maighdine) [Audio CD] Ni Ghuairim, Sorcha; Traditional, Irish; Traditional, Christmas; O Laoghaire, Pilib; Ni Ghallchobhair, Cait; Chant, Gregorian; Ni Riain, Noirin and N?ir?n N? Riain

Amazon.com The union between the well-respected Irish singer N?ir?n N? Riain and the monks of Glenstal is a perfect one. N? 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, N? 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 N? 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, masslike conclusion to the CD. N? Riain has also authored books on Celtic culture and Gregorian chant. --Karen Karleski