The Virgin's Lament (Caoineadhi Na Maighdine)

On this CD:

1. Caoineadh Mhuire (Mary's Keen)
Composed by Sorcha Ni Ghuairim
with Noirin Ni Riain

2. Gol na dTrí Muire (The Weeping of the three Marys)
Composed by Irish Traditional
with Noirin Ni Riain

3. The Darkest midnight in December
Composed by Christmas Traditional
with Noirin Ni Riain

4. Seacht nDólás na Maighdine Muire - Uíbh Ráthach (The seven sorrows of the Virgin Mary 1)
Composed by Pilib O Laoghaire
with Noirin Ni Riain

5. An Bhainis Phósta a Bhí I gCána (The Wedding feast at Cana)
Composed by Irish Traditional
with Noirin Ni Riain

6. Seacht nDólás na Maighdine Muire (County Connacht) (The seven sorrows of the Virgin Mary 2)
Composed by Sorcha Ni Ghuairim
with Noirin Ni Riain

7. An Caoineadh (The Keen)
Composed by Cait Ni Ghallchobhair
with Noirin Ni Riain

8. Caoineadh na hAoine (Friday Lament)
Composed by Irish Traditional
with Noirin Ni Riain

9. Pósadh Naofa Cána (The Holy Wedding at Cana)
Composed by Irish Traditional
with Noirin Ni Riain

10. Dextera Domini, offeratory, Mode 5
Composed by Gregorian Chant
with Noirin Ni Riain

11. Caoineadh na Maighdine (The Blessed Virgin's Keening)
Composed by Irish Traditional
with Noirin Ni Riain

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
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, masslike conclusion to the CD. Ní Riain has also authored books on Celtic culture and Gregorian chant. --Karen Karleski

The Virgin's Lament (Caoineadhi Na Maighdine),Noirin Ni Riain,Cait Ni Ghallchobhair,Sorcha Ni Ghuairim,Pilib O Laoghaire,Christmas Traditional,Irish Traditional,Nóirín Ní Riain,Sounds True Direct,Celtic,Celtic/Irish,Choral,Christmas Music,Int'l & World Music,Ireland,Miscellaneous,Pop,Vocal,Vocal Music,Western European Chant,World Music
Grieg: Peer Gynt
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • The Whole Thing
  • Hauntingly Beautiful
  • Good-enough readings but outstanding sound
  • Passionate
  • Maybe this is THE (one disc-) Peer Gynt album to own ...
Grieg: Peer Gynt

Manufacturer: Virgin Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Grieg, EdvardGrieg, Edvard | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Incidental MusicIncidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Theatrical, Incidental & Program MusicTheatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
  2. Copland: Appalachian Spring/Fanfare For The Common Man/El Salón México/Danzón Cubano
  3. Bach - Brandenburg Concertos / Il Giardino armonico
  4. Rachmaninov: All-Night Vigil
  5. Pytor Illych Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker - Complete Ballet

ASIN: B0007Z47JI
Release Date: 2005-06-07

Tracks:

  1. No. 1 At The Wedding (Prelude To Act I)
  2. No. 2 Halling
  3. No. 4 The Abduction Of The Bride
  4. No. 6 Peer Gynt And The Woman In Green
  5. No. 7 Peer Gynt: 'You Can Tell Great Men By The Style Of Their Mounts!'
  6. No. 3 Springar
  7. No. 8 In The Hall Of The Mountain King
  8. No. 9 Dance Of The Mountain King's Daughter
  9. No. 12 The Death Of Ase (Prelude To Act III)
  10. No. 13 Morning Mood (Prelude To Act IV)
  11. No. 15 Arabian Dance
  12. No. 16 Anitra's Dance
  13. No.17 Peer Gynt's Serenade
  14. No. 19 Solveig's Song
  15. No. 20 Peer Gynt At The Statue Of Memnon
  16. No. 21 Peer Gynt's Homecoming. Stormy Evening On The Sea (Prelude To Act V)
  17. No. 22 The Shipwreck
  18. No. 23 Solveig Sings In The Hut
  19. No. 25 Whitsun Hymn: 'O Blessed Morning'
  20. No. 26 Solveig's Cradle Song

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The Whole Thing.......2007-05-10

If there's an earlier 'Peer Gynt' recording that's complete (as opposed to just the 'suite') I've never heard of it. This is the entire incidental music to the play, not just the usual 'Dawn', 'The Hall of the Mountain King' 'Solveig's Song', etc.
Jarvi's reading is smooth and incisive and the choral parts are wonderful. I've never heard a scarier version of HOTMK. I never even knew that there was a solo vocal part for Peer himself, but here it is.

My only complaint-and it's a tiny one-is that the selections are not in the order that they would appear in Ibsen's play. But that's picking a very small nit indeed.

5 out of 5 stars Hauntingly Beautiful.......2007-03-11

Conductor Paavo Jarvi does a masterful job of leading the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra plays with great emotion and precision creating an exciting and almost hypnotic effect. Although Beecham's version is very good, his Peer Gynt does not come close to matching the sheer beauty of Jarvi's.
The soloists on this album are outstanding. I consider baritone Peter Mattei to be the most talented baritone of his type today and his rendition of Peer Gynt's Serenade is nothing short of incredible. Soprano Camilla Tilling as Soveig has a lovely ethereal sound to her voice which is used to great effect in her songs. Tilling has the loveliest female voice I have ever heard. Mezzo Charlotte Hellekant has also grown on me as Anitra. Many of these vocal songs are not included on other versions of Peer Gynt, which is a great shame. The choir, something I don't usually enjoy, is very impressive.
I would rate this CD as by far the best version of Peer Gynt and perhaps my favorite CD of all time. The sound quality of the recording should also be mentioned because it is absolutely stunning.

3 out of 5 stars Good-enough readings but outstanding sound.......2007-02-21

I don't find that Paavo Jarvi and his Estonian forces have much to say in the familiar numbers from Peer Gynt. You must turn to Beecham for sheer delight in famous numbers like In The Hall of the Moutain King, Morning, Anitra's Dance, and so on. Where this recording scores is in the unfamiliar numbers; Peter Matteo's excellent rendition of the little-known Peer Gynt's Serenade is one highlight, as is the convincingly crude folk fiddling that begins half a dozen numbers.

Secondly, there's the sound. The engineers have achieved quite exceptinally clear, open sonics that I've never heard the like of in Peer Gynt. Even when Jarvi's conducting is ordinary and his Estonian musician ae playing at far less than virtuosic level, the gorgeous sounds coming out of one's speakers remain alluring. As far as completeness goes, the Ruud 2-CD set from Bis is unchallenged.

4 out of 5 stars Passionate.......2006-08-18

The story line gives the listener a guide to follow the music, but the score leaves out the connections for the listener to only imagine the performance. The music is passionate and descriptive and introduces the listener to the singing voices of parts of the presentation that are left out in the "Suite." I appreciate hearing it over and over.

5 out of 5 stars Maybe this is THE (one disc-) Peer Gynt album to own ..........2006-02-15

... to keep closely beside the gorgeous, incisively intelligent and deeply concentrated performance (also on 1 CD) with Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and Barbara Hendricks singing the role of Solveig (Sony Classical).
Together with the recordings by Neeme Jarvi (27 cues; DGG), Marriner (only 12 cues; EMI), Tate (17 cues; EMI), Blomstedt (19 cues; Decca), Dreier (the first truly complete recording of all of the original music (1978); 32 cues, including 'Bridal Procession', 'Solveig's Song' and three 'Norwegian Dances' all of them n o t originally written for the play; Unicorn UKCD + NKFCD) and Ruud (the first complete recording with 29 cues plus all of the dialogue, making a total of 51 cues, coming up on 113 minutes; BIS), these two (1-CD) albums by Paavo Jarvi and Esa-Pekka Salonen are as complete as can get concerning this so called 'incidental' music for the Henrik Ibsen play of Peer Gynt. Nowadays, Peer Gynt is Norway's No. 1 national epic, thereby giving this music extra significance and poignancy. Originally, there are in all some twenty-six numbers of incidental music for the play: almost ninety minutes of music, as can be learned from the booklet-essay. And according to the booklet, twenty of those are on this album; No. 5, 10, 11, 14, 18 and 24 are left out of this recording. 'Solveig's Song' wasn't originally written for the stage play but nonetheless included as such on this CD, so actually 19 original pieces from Peer Gynt, op. 23 are on this album, and not 20. But anyhow, such 'criticism' would amount to nitpicking ;-)
Here I would like to warn the reader that this will be a somewhat one-sided review, as I have only ever heard the Peer Gynt-recordings of Esa-Pekka Salonen, Per Dreier (freshly inspired, very natural performances) and this newest one of Paavo Jarvi. So this review is, for what it is worth, a personal and somewhat subjective approach, leaving out many other alternatives ...

Anyhow, as for the one-CD albums of Peer Gynt, op. 23, the merits of the Salonen/Oslo Philharmonic album (aside from the artistic ones, which are huge, as well as spot on as far as the 'Nordic' atmosphere of the music is concerned) lie in the fact that - up to now - it has been as near 'complete' a rendering of the music for Peer Gynt - as much as fits on one CD - as one might wish, covering the whole dramatic arc of the play from beginning to end (but without any of the spoken dialogue). I believe that this new recording with Paavo Jarvi is even more complete - as could be fitted on one disc - and gives the listener an even better feel of the drama of the play, if only because there is more singing here, namely by Peer Gynt (in the delightful 'Peer Gynt's Serenade'). Also, one hears here seldomly recorded, but wonderfully evocative pieces, such as 'Peer Gynt and the Woman in Green', 'Peer gynt: you can tell great men by the style of their mounts', 'Peer Gynt at the Statue of Memnon' (similar to 'Prelude Act III: Deep in the Coniferous Forest' on the Salonen/Oslo Philharmonic album. Actually it is the same piece, but it was never intended as the prelude to act III) and 'The Shipwreck'. Simply delightful, all this! As are all the soloists - truly, the best one could wish for! - singing in this recording. If I may steal a quote from Tim Ashley, The Guardian, May 13, 2005: "Peter Mattei is the swollen-headed Peer, Camilla Tilling a dignified, unsentimental Solveig and the incomparable Charlotte Hellekant a camp but lethally seductive Anitra." But although Camilla Tilling's Solveig is superb, IMHO she is not as completely involved-sounding or as convincing in the projecting of the troubled mind and heart of (especially the elderly) Solveig as does Barbara Hendricks for Esa-Pekka Salonen.
Even more than Esa-Pekka Salonen's performance with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, this recording offers the listener a more 'true to the letter-performance', as the music is here performed as heard during the play, as witnessed by 'Solveigs vuggevise' ('Solveig's Cradle Song'), where her singing is interlaced with the 'Whitsun Hymn', which, to the ears of this listener, only heigtening the sense of drama and storytelling.
All in all a fantastic album, I believe, and one that brings into focus the drama even more than other recordings of this music. Even though the orchestral playing of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra is maybe a (slight) nodge below that of the Oslo Philharmonic under Salonen and missing out on the deepest or finer layers of melancholy and dramatic tension (which are indeed touched upon by Salonen, I think), it is warmly sympathetic and more lush (as is the acoustics of the recording venue).
The really adventurous or Peer Gynt-completists (and once taken this step, the all too brief Suites will never be an option again!) should really go for Dreier or Ruud - this last one is said to be simply magnificent (music as well as acting) - but this generous one disc album, with some of the most gorgeous playing and singing, is warmly recommended (at least, in my opinion) to anyone who loves this wonderfully evocative music. Delightful!
The Virgin's Lament (Caoineadhi Na Maighdine)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Gaelic Treasure!
  • Least liked of three
  • A Cool Waterfall Melting the Knots of the Mind
  • Exquisite Gaelic plainsong
  • Wonderful
The Virgin's Lament (Caoineadhi Na Maighdine)

Manufacturer: Sounds True Direct
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Sacred & ReligiousSacred & Religious | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Requiems
Vocal & SongVocal & Song | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Requiems
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
Irish FolkIrish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
BritainBritain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music
IrelandIreland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Celtic | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ChantsChants | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music
CelticCeltic | Europe | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music
InternationalInternational | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Vox de Nube
  2. Stor Amhran (A Wealth of Songs)
  3. Soundings
  4. The Darkest Midnight
  5. Rosa Mystica

ASIN: B00000BIB4
Release Date: 1998-09-29

Tracks:

  1. Caoineadh Mhuire (Mary's Keen)
  2. Gol Na DTri Muire (The Weeping Of The Three Marys)
  3. The Darkest Midnight
  4. Seacht NDolas Na Maighdine Muire Uibh Rathach (The Seven Sarrows Of The Virgin Mary I)
  5. An Bhainis Phosta A Bhi I GCana (The Wedding Feast At Cana)
  6. Seacht NDolas Na Maighdine Muire (The Seven Sorrows Of The Virgin Mary II)
  7. An Caoineadh (The Keen)
  8. Caoineadh Na HAoine (Friday Lament)
  9. Posadh Naofa Cana (The Holy Wedding At Cana)
  10. Destera Domini (The Lord's Right Hand)
  11. Caoneadhi Na Maighdine (The Blessed Virgin's Keening)

Amazon.com

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, masslike conclusion to the CD. Ní Riain has also authored books on Celtic culture and Gregorian chant. --Karen Karleski

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Gaelic Treasure!.......2004-09-15

A wonderful work: a unique blend of traditional spiritual Gaelic songs against a backdrop of Gregorian chant(also in Gaelic!)....a truly unique work. It is a feast for the ears as well as the mind. Close your eyes and you will see the beauty and mystery of the Emerald isle.Pity that its only 41 minutes.........

4 out of 5 stars Least liked of three.......2001-10-27

I bought this cd after listening and loving Noirin's other music. Enya eat your heart out.... Noirin's voice and her ability to portray her emotions thru the Gaelic is sheer heaven.

5 out of 5 stars A Cool Waterfall Melting the Knots of the Mind.......2001-05-20

This exqusite CD is a threshold into a finer level of existance. As a yoga teacher I have found it to be a lovely adjunct to practice as the melodies pour through the brain and liquify any tensions as they soak and gracefully melt through the spine, through the whole nervous system. With even a shred of attention on this profound music your whole awareness will settle into that sacred space of your own being, Being Itself. This CD is a masterpiece.

5 out of 5 stars Exquisite Gaelic plainsong.......2000-06-08

The 11 1/2 minute final track - "The Blessed Virgin's Keening" - is sufficient justification for this album. The monks of Glenstal are superb in this antiphonal (call & response) plainsong sung in Gaelic. It is repetitive but never boring as there are constantly subtle changes keeping the listener's interest. "Mary's Keening" which begins the album is a perfect counterpoint to the final piece. "The Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary" is probably the most recognized piece on the album - and again an excellent rendition. There are no poor tracks - give this a listen and I'm sure you'll want an encore.

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful.......1999-07-31

The music is beautiful and lulling, and her voice is pure and feminine in a hauntingly lovely way. I found this music to be spiritually inspirational and utterly peaceful. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Celtic music, Gregogorian chants, spiritual music, or a pure soprano voice.
John Tavener: Thunder Entered Her
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • One of the best Tavener CDs ever
John Tavener: Thunder Entered Her

Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by TavenerAll Works by Tavener | Tavener, John Kenneth | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000DNF7
Release Date: 1994-10-11

Tracks:

  1. Angels
  2. Annunciation
  3. The Lament Of The Mother Of God
  4. Thunder Entered Her
  5. Hymns Of Paradise
  6. God Is With Us

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars One of the best Tavener CDs ever.......2004-04-10

"Thunder Entered Her" is a thrilling setting of a brief Nativity text from St. Ephrem the Syrian. "God Is With Us" is a Christmas proclamation performed better here than in other recordings. I own nearly 30 Tavener CDs and this is one of my very favorite ones.
La Guitarra Romantica
Average customer rating: Not rated
    La Guitarra Romantica

    Manufacturer: RCA
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    All Works by TarregaAll Works by Tarrega | Tarrega, Francisco | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    Serenades & DivertimentosSerenades & Divertimentos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music | Divertimentos
    GuitarGuitar | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
    Bream, JulianBream, Julian | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
    ASIN: B000003F0G
    Release Date: 1991-07-05

    Tracks:

    1. Mazurka In G
    2. Study In A
    3. Marietta
    4. Capricho Arabe
    5. Prld in a
    6. Recuerdos de la Alhambra
    7. Serenata
    8. Tango espagnol
    9. Guajira
    10. Popular Catalan Songs: The Night Of Christmas
    11. Popular Catalan Songs: The Nightingale
    12. Popular Catalan Songs: The Master
    13. Popular Catalan Songs: The Girl at the Spinning Wheel
    14. Popular Catalan Songs: Amelia's Will
    15. Popular Catalan Songs: The Thief's Song
    16. Popular Catalan Songs: Lament
    17. Popular Catalan Songs: The Son of the Virgin
    18. Popular Catalan Songs: Riera's Heir
    Lights in the Dark
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • ASTLEYAN AS ANYTHING
    • Sheer brilliance in the dark
    • Music to make moss grow, whisky flow and tired skin prickle.
    • Distinto ? Un regreso a casa.
    • Hypnotically beautiful
    Lights in the Dark
    Hector Zazou , Traditional , Breda Mayock , and Katie McMahon
    Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    Hardcore & PunkHardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music | Vinyl Records | American Punk | British Punk | Emo | Garage Punk | Hardcore | Post Hardcore | Proto Punk | Punk | Punk Revival | Punk-Pop | Riot Grrl | Ska Punk | Straight Edge
    Post-PunkPost-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    Experimental RockExperimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Celtic | International | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
    Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    Experimental MusicExperimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
    ASIN: B000009PT5
    Release Date: 1998-08-18

    Tracks:

    1. Ralt (The Star)
    2. Seacht Sauilcena Maighdine Muire (Seven...
    3. Dn Nar Marbh (Song of the Dead)
    4. Caoineadh Na Dtr Muire (Keening Joys of...
    5. Seacht Sauilcena Maighdine Muire (Seven...
    6. Gol Na Dtr Muire (Lament of the Three...
    7. Amhrn Na Pise (Song of the Passion)
    8. In Ainm an Athar le Bua (In the Name of...
    9. Seacht Ndlas Na Maighdine Muire (Seven... -
    10. Duan Chro osa (Little Song to the Heart...
    11. Caoine Mhuire (Mary's Lament)
    12. Achain an Ghra (Requests of Love)
    13. Amergin (Tomb of Every Hope)

    Amazon.com

    Zazou specializes in ambient soundtracks for nonexistent movies that take their cues from various world music genres. This time out it's Irish sacred music, and Zazou, with the help of a small army of international stars including Egyptian percussionist Hossam Ramzy, trumpet wiz Mark Isham, and French picker extraordinaire Thierry Robin, has fashioned 13 moody settings for ancient and modern texts that feature mournful vocals by Brede Mayock and Lasairfhiona ni Chonaola. The result is new agey, but the passion of the singers and some disturbing instrumental touches keep the music from getting too predictable. The misleading ads for this album say that it features Brendan Perry from Dead Can Dance, and Katie McMahon from "Riverdance." Perry does play percussion on two tracks, and McMahon sings lead on three, but if you're looking for the Gothic pop of DCD or the exuberant Irish jigs of "Riverdance," you're going to be disappointed. --j. poet

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars ASTLEYAN AS ANYTHING.......2002-01-10

    If you like Virginia Astley you are bound to love this album as its possibly the greatest one she never made.Theres a link of sorts with Virginia as the entire album is dedicated to Caroline Lavelle who takes part.
    This is an album I play a lot.I've had it on a Walkman,ringing through my ears.I've LIVED with it.
    Maybe at some future stage this Algerian expatraite will coax Virginia out of retirement to put in an appearance on some future album,the ame way he apparantly did with the ex Passion Barbara Gogan.
    Zazou is a Cult Artiste who will never find commercial fame yet will continue to make great music. You just have to be grateful for stuff like this,for record companies who will spend a fortune and know there will be little return
    This is Forever Music that makes you feel good and I would say this is the Zazou you should hear first before exploring the other albums

    5 out of 5 stars Sheer brilliance in the dark.......1999-06-29

    Hector and the ladies go way beyond the traditional ethereal old and modern Irish religious Sean Nos of the likes of Noirin Ni Riain, who is justly thanked on this album "for paving the way". Nowhere the same, nowhere boring, nowhere conventional, but refreshing, surprising and renewing a very old tradition. Like a genuine Celtic tradition to mould an amalgam of the very best of foreign elements (Japanese!) with the strong potential of indigenous traditions to create a unique and succesful blend. A perfect album as such, in its sheer musical brilliancy but even with consideration to the tradition of numerical esoterism when putting its strongest track Amhran na Paise on position seven (!) out of a total of thirteen (!) Columcille himself would have approved! He who has ears, may he hear...

    5 out of 5 stars Music to make moss grow, whisky flow and tired skin prickle........1999-02-06

    This should surprise nobody. The man needed to set straight the dangerous Riverdance tendency which should not be the world's window on Irish culture. Lights in the Dark follows naturally the even more ethereal -- but perhaps more feral -- Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corse (Philips 848515-2), a set of Corsican choral works with a little touch of John Cale. How can I find out what's happening next? Do I wait 'til Cale comes to Australia again, and ask him? Hector, talk to me!

    5 out of 5 stars Distinto ? Un regreso a casa........1998-11-17

    Después de leer algunos de los comentarios de otros oyentes de la más reciente producción de Hector Zazou no es dificil inferir que las obras "Sahara Blue" y "Songs form the cold seas" son las más seguidas (compradas) de este autor. Sin embargo, esas obras representan una excepción en la "corriente" de Zazou donde por más de 10 trabajos su -al parecer- búsqueda ha sido la interdisciplinariedad. Claro está que esa más-que-esdrújula palabra le queda corta por que Zazou traduce una intención de unir en la música las etnias. Desde 1983 con sus trabajos al lado de Bony Bikaye o aún antes Zazou transcribe si se quiere el deseo de encontrar un lenguaje primario. Y por lo visto su brújula apunta ahora a las culturas gaélicas. Si llega a este texto para encontrar un reducto de ánimo que lo conduzca a comprar, no lo dude. Hágalo. Descubra así una mente inquieta que nos habla de una época donde la aparente velocidad nos reduce las distancias para descubrir que el camino hacia el interior apenas comienza.

    5 out of 5 stars Hypnotically beautiful.......1998-10-13

    An ethereal, dreamy collection of sacred Irish hymns - very different from Hector Zazou's other CDs, but equally mesmerising. The vocalists and arrangements are haunting. Not to be missed!
    Cór: Traditional Irish Songs for Chorus
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Cór: Traditional Irish Songs for Chorus

      Manufacturer: Arsis Records
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
      General ContemporaryGeneral Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Folk | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      Folk SongsFolk Songs | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      NoelsNoels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      General ChristmasGeneral Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Celtic | International | Styles | Music
      General ChristmasGeneral Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
      ASIN: B0006SSOXQ
      Release Date: 2004-12-28

      Tracks:

      1. She Moved Through the Fair - Celtic Ayres, Marlowe Morris Trio
      2. Beidh Aonach Amar (Tomorrow There'll Be a Fair) - Celtic Ayres, Marlowe Morris Trio
      3. Si Do Mhaimeo (She's Your Granny) - Celtic Ayres, Marlowe Morris Trio
      4. Rakes of Mallow - Celtic Ayres, Marlowe Morris Trio
      5. Phil the Fluther's Ball
      6. Down by the Salley Gardens
      7. Thugamar F an Samradh Linn (We Brought the Summer With Us)
      8. Lark in the Clear Air
      9. Don Od I Mbeithil (Once Upon a Night in Bethlehem)
      10. Suantraa Maighdine (The Virgin Mary's Lullaby)
      11. Wexford Carol
      12. s Do Bheatha 'Bhaile (You Are Welcome Home)
      13. Famine Lament
      14. Dn (Seaweed)
      15. Coulin
      16. Ardagh Cuain
      17. Silent, O Moyle
      18. Derry Air (Danny Boy)
      19. Cat's Ramble to the Child's Saucer (A Medley of Irish Melodies): Rakes
      20. Lord of the Dancing Day
      Nancy Armstrong: What Magic Has Victorious Love
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Nancy Armstrong: What Magic Has Victorious Love
        Purcell , Handel , and Armstrong/ Boston Museum Trio
        Manufacturer: Video Artists Int'l
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
        ASIN: B00007MB7V
        Release Date: 2003-01-28

        Rock Music:

        1. Toute La Musique [Live] [Import]
        2. Venezia 2000 [Import]
        3. Very Best of Alabina [Import]
        4. Voices of Life
        5. Water Down the Ganges
        6. Ya-Rayi [Original recording remastered]
        7. Yemenite Songs
        8. Yoshida Brothers
        9. Zucchero & Co. [Import]
        10. Absolute Rai [Box set] [Import]

        Rock Music

        rock music

        Recommended Music:

        Or MP Comp [Import]

        The slavonic soul

        The Upper 48 Hits: 1972-1997

        George Jones Sings the Great Songs of Leon Payne

        The Treasure of the Sierra Madre [Soundtrack]

        Vocal Music from One Earth, Vol. 1: Eastern Europe and Southern Siberia

        Universal Masters Collection [Import] [Original recording remastered]

        Tyger and Other Tales

        Tradition of Bagdad [Import]

        Tchaikovsky/Dvorak Violin Concertos

        Universally Speaking [CD-single] [Enhanced] [Import]

        Tributo a los Grandes Paquita la del Barrio

        Welcome 2 Tha Real World

        Adagio: Music for Massage

        At the Hollywood Palladium