The latest CDs reviewed

May We Never Have to Say Goodbye Tara

It's been a quarter of a century since The Brendan Voyage, and Shaun Davey has continued exploring the common ground between traditional and classical music, rather than accepting their difference as indubitable. May We Never Have to Say Goodbye is a grand gesture, a richly distilled celebration of some of Davey's most recent vibrant compositions, from the cinematic opener, The Battle of Cul Dremne (newly composed for The Pilgrim) to the emotionally charged title track, composed for the Special Olympics. It's the melding of traditional musicians' unpredictable essence (Seamus Begley and Galician gaita master Edelmiro Fernandez) with the imposing discipline of the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra that makes the record shimmer. And of course, Liam Ó Floinn's magnificent piping anchors it all impeccably, particularly on the glorious Pilgrim's Sunrise. www.shaundavey.com Siobhán Long