Ave Maria.....

[TerriP]

Born & raised Catholic and I learned that Ava Maria is the Hail Mary prayer just a couple week ago. I heard Bocelli's version on the radio on the way into work and decided to "google it" to see what the words to the song meant. I had no idea it was the Hail Mary prayer...now I love it even more.

 

[laurie31]

We are also Baptist, but I knew this.

However, our church choir director many years ago did not. We were singing Ave Maria as part of our Christmas program, and my Dad (who did study Latin) mentioned in jest to him that it was kind of funny that we would sing that in a Baptist church. Dad didn't know it was the "Hail Mary" but he knew the words meant "Holy Mary, Pray for us" etc. I can still remember the choir director's reaction - too funny! (and yes, we still sang it!)

I have several Catholic friends, and actually sang this at a Catholic wedding, so I did recognize it as the "Hail Mary."

This thread makes me think my DDs really need to study Latin!


ETA - here is the Hail Mary prayer in many languages. http://www.ourladyweb.com/mary-avemaria.html

 

[tazdev3225]

I love this song and did learn at some point it was the Hail Mary prayer; I am not Catholic but my dad's family is. I cannot hear this song without sobbing like a baby. My Gram loved this song and played it all the time. I know it should bring back happy memories but it just reminds me of how much I miss her.

 

[Golf4food]

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.

Thank you. There are probably more versions of "Ave Maria" than we can count, just as there are more versions of the "Requiem" than can be counted.

The title merely comes from the first two words of the song. Everyone that ever wrote a song using that prayer called it Ave Maria. That's how it worked.


For my money, the best Ave Maria is by Franz Biebl, written in 1964.

Here's a Youtube video of an a capella performance of it by the wonderful vocal ensemble Chanitcleer:

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

 

[Vixen]

i wake up every morning to that song... i have my alarm set to a local news radio and at 6 am every morning they play ave maria but the pavaroty version

 

[Anne34]

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

Me three - and I'm Catholic too! (I knew it was about her -- just not the Hail Mary)

 

[Terry36]

I love Celine Dion's version as well.