In imitation perhaps of countless Elizabethan songbooks, Tynan's and Burnside's compilation contains 23 numbers. Composers range from Britten to Cage though only two are actually Irish (Harty and Hughes). All are inspired by Irish folksong.

Soprano Tynan has a fresh, light, but powerful voice, which never distorts and uses vibrato sparingly. She relates symbiotically to Burnside whose dancing fingers push her to controlled abandon in Moeran's The Tinker's Daughter and Hughes' Marry me Now. She sings the several Britten settings with touching simplicity. There isn't a finer melody on the disc than At the mid hour of Night, while Burnside makes perfect sense of the composer's sometimes strained harmonies.

The disc is full of interest. There are lovely, unknown tunes, seductively sung and hauntingly harmonised. It has pathos and wild joy in equal measure. An excellent recital.

The beautiful, tearful tune of the traditional 'The Lost Lover' are exquisitely set by Moeran and Tynan's wistful tone colour expresses the sadness perfectly. It's the epitome of an excellent recording. Green Blues Samuel Barber was proud of his Celtic roots and in 'Solitary Hotel' sets a New World bluesy backdrop to James Joyce's stuttering verse. It evokes loneliness and adventure wonderfully. Perfect Blend The haunting melodic beauty of 'The Salley Gardens', the moodiness of Britten's eerie harmonisation which doesn't spoil the tune but enhances it and the powerful sense of loss in Yeats' poetry are a perfect blend of the three ingredients of song and a powerful conclusion to the disc.