Ave Maria.....

[maslex]

I must say that this is one of the most beautiful songs ever. I have always loved it and it usually brings a tear to my eye every time I hear it. Well, being Christmas time and all, I've been hearing it on the radio more than usual. (which is more than fine by me)

So yesterday, after hearing it twice on the radio I decided to come home and look up the lyrics on the internet (I believe it's in Latin, right?) So since I cannot read latin, I looked up the English translation. Here's what got me....I did not know that it translated into the "Hail Mary" prayer. Am I the only one that did not know this?

Then since I was on the internet, I decided to look on youtube and watch videos of different people singing it. I have mainly heard the church choir version and lately on the radio, it's been Celine Dion's version (which I love). But let me tell you something, go on youtube and check out Charlotte Church's version. W O W...is all I can say.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

There are two versions of Ave Maria, one is Bach - Gounoud (the most literal translation of the prayer) and the other is Schubert.

Without being offensive, I've not met anyone who didn't know that Ave Maria meant Hail Mary and was the musical version of the devotive prayer to the Blessed Mother.

 

[golfgal]

There are two versions of Ave Maria, one is Bach - Gounoud (the most literal translation of the prayer) and the other is Schubert.

Without being offensive, I've not met anyone who didn't know that Ave Maria meant Hail Mary and was the musical version of the devotive prayer to the Blessed Mother.

Well, now you have met two--and I am Catholic .

 

[mamamary]

This song was sung at our wedding.

 

[Art 1]

This song was sung at our wedding.

Ours too.

 

[Tinijocaro]

I must say that this is one of the most beautiful songs ever.

.........unless it is sung by Harry Connick Junior. Then, it is one of the worst songs ever.

 

[Art 1]

There are two versions of Ave Maria, one is Bach - Gounoud (the most literal translation of the prayer) and the other is Schubert.

Without being offensive, I've not met anyone who didn't know that Ave Maria meant Hail Mary and was the musical version of the devotive prayer to the Blessed Mother.

Same here.

 

[golfgal]

This song was sung at our wedding.

Ours too.

Us three

 

[Nancyg56]

Well, now you have met two--and I am Catholic .

Make that three and I am Catholic as well I knew it was a devotion to the Blessed Mother but had no idea that it was The Hail Mary Prayer set to music. Oh well, Latin was not offered when I was in HS

 

[golfgal]

Make that three and I am Catholic as well I knew it was a devotion to the Blessed Mother but had no idea that it was The Hail Mary Prayer set to music. Oh well, Latin was not offered when I was in HS

Maybe all the nuns at the Catholic schools/college I attended just assumed we knew that-we didn't have Latin in school either.

 

[starwood]

There is another version (quite different) by Caccini. We are singing it Christmas Eve.

 

[Pooh67_68]

I went to youtube so I could hear Pavarotti sing it. I tried listening to a few female singers sing it, but didn't like their versions. I also like Andrea Bocelli.

 

[mmackeymouse]

Devout lifelong Catholic here. And I did not know it either.

I knew Ave Maria translated to Hail Mary, and obviously I knew the song itself was an homage to Mary. But, I did not know the whole song was literally the Hail Mary translated.

Learn something new every day.

By the way, if you want a GREAT version, check out Josh Groban. Voice of an angel. And Gor. Geous.

 

[clgwli]

There are two versions of Ave Maria, one is Bach - Gounoud (the most literal translation of the prayer) and the other is Schubert.

Without being offensive, I've not met anyone who didn't know that Ave Maria meant Hail Mary and was the musical version of the devotive prayer to the Blessed Mother.

Actually there are far more versions of Ave Maria than the two you listed. Those are just two of the most well known versions

The Caccini version someone mentioned is absolutely beautiful! We're singing two other versions this Christmas at our church.

 

[mjkacmom]

I had it sung at our wedding (Catholic church) - it's beautiful, and yes, I knew what it meant.

 

[Liz]

Another beautiful version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jor_qK91OW0

 

[SC Minnie]

This song was sung at our wedding.

Ours too. My MIL requested it be sung and I obliged.

(I think that earned me some brownie points )

 

[TaraPA]

Without being offensive, I've not met anyone who didn't know that Ave Maria meant Hail Mary and was the musical version of the devotive prayer to the Blessed Mother.

I had no idea - I asked my boss who is Catholic & she had no idea either! Seems like the majority of folks on here didn't know.

The song reminds me of the movie Alive - they play it (I think at the ending credits) - so it always reminds me of the movie & gives me the creeps because of that!

 

[minkydog]

Without being offensive, I've not met anyone who didn't know that Ave Maria meant Hail Mary and was the musical version of the devotive prayer to the Blessed Mother.

And just why would *everyone* know what the Hail Mary is? I'm a life long Baptist and we have no tradition of praying to or honoring Mary, other than as the mother of Jesus. I have sung Ave Maria many times and I know what it means. However, I highly doubt that most of my Baptist, Muslim, Lutheran, Assemblies of God or Jewish friends would know anything about Mary, Hailed or otherwise unless they have sung classical chorus music. So I don't think it is unreasonable that non-Catholics would not know much about Ave Maria.

 

[wdwfan16]

I love that song. I did not know of all the versions. I knew the title was translated to Hail Mary part but I have never read the translation of the song, so did not realize it was the prayer that was being sung. I love Mario Lanza singing it.