Ave Maria is not a Christmas song although it’s played mostly during the holiday season. As Jazzbaby stated on her blog, there are two versions, the Shubert and the Bach-Gounod version. My favorite is the Gounod sung by one my favorite voices, Johnny Mathis.
He also does the Schubert version, too. Which one do you prefer?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8ciI0nAWFY
Schubert, I think because I hear it less 🙂 But I prefer the medieval settings of this piece and other Marian hymns 🙂
Thanks to you I’m getting more and more into Johnny Mathis. Gorgeous voice.
Hi Judiang,
I can’t decide. Both versions are lovely–especially with Johnny Mathis’ stirring voical interpretations. Thanks for sharing them.
Holiday Cheers! Grati ;->
I love both versions but the Schubert is the one I am more familiar with. I also love Johnny Mathis singing pretty much anything. 🙂 He has such a beautifully soothing voice.