Read the following sentences from "The Swimming Contest." Back in the house, Abdul-Karim put on a record, wound the handle and adjusted the
soundbox. The sound of a kamanji and drum and cymbals issued forth, immediately
followed by an Arab song, sung in a sweet plaintive voice, with delicate, floating trills.

In this sentence, "plaintive" most likely means

A. hesitant

B. high-pitched

C. pleading

D. sorrowful