The Ave Maria; Joolen

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Updated 21 January 2026.❤🌹

Foto. Here was a lovely quiet courtyard; in a church in San Diego; where we said our last goodbyes to Oma. And i know she is with Opa now! Frolicking in the warm sunny California part of heaven.-Hi, guys! I will see you when i see you; and we'll party then. Though i am hoping yet; it will be a while.

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WELL; THERE ARE literally thousands of classical pieces written under the title; Ave Maria. (Thank you; google AI!) And i suspected as much. But the two that i have grown up with; and played on my cello; are the ones by Schubert; and Bach-Gounod. Which has always been my favorite one. 

And which i also gloriously; and nearly impossibly; learned to sing! But i learned my chops and earned my song. Because; oh, my; it is so delicious. And it is so iconic; pure; moving; and gorgeous. And of course; it is deeply spiritual. I prefer the Bach-Gounod the most; for its pure clean simple rhythm and musical construction. And for its exquisite; though surely difficult intervals! But you always feel good when it is done. You feel satisfied. You feel complete.❤🌹 

THAT IS something you should know for this Christmas season; when perhaps they are both sung the most. (The two Ave Marias; i mean.) Unless i made that up. I will let you talk to the Google AI about that. But; longing to hear it again; i thought to try and find the best performance; to my ear; on the Youtube today. (Of the Bach-Gounod Ave Maria.) 

And my standards are very high! I require a European pronunciation; for one thing; as i think it was meant to be sung. (I think it sounds kind of cheap otherwise. It is not a pop or country song.) And; quite simply; not everyone can maintain and sustain those heart-breaking intervals; and long exquisite notes! While also then maintaining; an exquisite and powerful purity of tone. Wait a sec while i go for a listen; to make sure. I also do not like it overly operatic. It is a pure simple song.❤🌹

SO WOW;  i found something i haven't seen in years; that i could not believe i would have found. I love this partly for it's gorgeous filmic production; of course. 

I can feel her reverence. I am seeing less foreign film; and art film these days; with all of our filmhouses gone. (Sucked dry by streaming; of course.) And this evokes for me that. 

I also love this for the earnest; but almost punk-rock modern freakiness.-Though i mean that in the very best way!-Of the exquisite pianist; of course. And for the beauty and filmic performance of the singer herself. But; most essentially; for the simple effortless purity of her voice. She sings it a little bit faster than i would chose; but honestly; who would i be to complain?! Once i saw this; i looked no further.❤🌹

THANKS, GUYS! We need more reverence and earnestness in our world today.-To deflect and counterbalance; well, you know. Everything; i suppose. And this video has all the parts of me! It has the classical piano; which i also played.-And; the singer; which i also do. But then also the cellist! Who played this; that is; i did. As an earnest young cello girl. I think they must have made this just for me!-Well then; bravo.❤🌹

Copyright and Permissions.
All materials on this site are protected; Copyright © 2025 by the author, Bernadette Joolen; All Rights Reserved. Which includes all text; design; and photographs.

THE AUTHOR can be reached
at contactbjoolen@gmail.com.

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