Merry Christmas everyone!!
Thought I would share a recording of Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria”that I had made back in 1999. My brother in law Alan Gasser sings and I play the guitar. Our version is a very intimate and personal rendering.
Although not specifically about Christmas is about the Virgin Mary and is very much associated with Christmas today.
[audio:http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mp3/ave-maria.mp3]
I think it is perhaps one of the most beautiful songs every composed.
I used to busk this song in the subway year round and it always made people ready to give as if it were Christmas eve. I must have played it over 10,000 times and had all kinds of wonderful and interesting experiences while playing it.
Mike – that was FABULOUS! Thank you for sharing! Happy Holidays!
Yes, it’s interesting to hear something from so long ago …
And the recording we did was so simple, especially compared to, say, the Elvis manner of singing Ave Maria, I’d got into the habit of, or … the subway buskers’ audition when we morphed from Can’t Help Falling In Love to Ave Maria, and almost could not do it without laughing.
The surprise, of course, is that although we did the song so many times, counting on its great powers of beauty and of compelling people to give us cash, the song itself is still hauntingly beautiful, still worth listening to. (Boy were there some funny — i.e. not quite right — versions of Christmas carols out there in the subways this year!)
Amy
Thank for taking time to listen. I am glad you liked it.
Alan
That is true. The song’s beauty certainly is durable even after so many repetitions. I also enjoyed listening to it again.
http://www.argosoft.org/kavkasia/ … WOW!
BTW, Mike – your site just gets better and better and better.
Amy
You can hear samples of some more of alan’s singing on my cd shop site at:
http://www.deepdownproductions.com/kavkasia-songs-caucasaus-p-77.html
In fact I’ll put a sample here as a test. I installed a new feature on the blog where anyone can post links to sound or video files by posting a link to the file.
here
Lemme know if you can hear this.
FABULOUS! FABULOUS! That is amazing music!
What do you use for your mp3 player? And, I hate to sound so dumb (esp. since I am!) but I don’t understand how what you are talking about works. So, let me see if I can explain what I think you are saying. You can share mp3 files — host them here. And, I could play them on my site by referencing the URL within my mp3 player? If so, that is absolutely marvelous and opens up all kinds of marketing opportunities. I’ll come back to see your answers to this.
I also wanted to let you know that our Coldplay singers left a message. I thought you might want to say something to the lads if you have a minute (since you are a professional!) . They are so cute!
Thanks for sharing Alan’s music. So very nice!
Amy
Amy
Here’s how the player works. You install the plugin on your blog.
It’s available here
http://an-archos.com/anarchy-media-player
Then where ever you post links to media files on your blog in posts or comments players magically appear.
The file can be anywhere on the internet but must be created using the tags.
This works for video as well as audio files of various different formats.
So to have this work on your site you need to install the plugin.
Then posters could put up links to media files on your site.
Thank you so much for putting this song on your blog. It IS a beautiful and very intimate rendering of the song and exactly what I was searching for. I have been on a dark road in my life recently, but have found the road to a brighter and happier path. I have discovered how to live each day, that I must accept the past and cannot change the future. Life is amazing and am learning to embrace each day and live in the power of NOW. I too, continue to listen to this song and am experiencing wonderful and interesting experiences while playing it. I understand you completely. Peace, my friend.
Joey
I am so glad you enjoyed my recording. As a musician to touch other people is a great honour.
Peace right back at you.
Mike and Alan,
I came across this recording when doing a search for Ava Maria. It is beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing.
Lu