Hayley Westenra - Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod) - River of Dreams

[avemariaclark]

Goosebumps! Thanks for posting this. I just added it to my Ave Maria playlist. Thanks!

[peacenikkie]

One of my all-time favourite songs beautifully sung by this talented young woman. I love all her songs! Her voice is incredible!! Thank you SO much for posting this video! ~0;-D

[Loufoca13]

I believe this is the most beautiful sound I have ever heard and I will ever hear in my life. She really has the voice of an angel.

[yanzi1811]

I've heard several versions of Ave Maria.. and this one is the best! she had such a wonderful voice...

[ShayCarlFan1000]

@yanzi1811 she...had?

[bamahornplayer]

One of the most beautiful things I've ever heard. WOW.

[angieinevitable]

she only has a beautiful voice, a beautiful face and is in a first world country, but has toned voice is like a little girl, not a young man with more character, but I guess that sells.

[GZautashvili]

Why dislike? :(

[floydrharper]

I'm 65 years old and I've only heard a handful of voices of this quality.

[Zombiemutilators]

In Latin the "i" is pronounced with an "e" sound. The "e" is pronounced with an "eh" sound. She's doing it perfectly for pronunciation. 

[hayleywestenrafan1]

@Zombiemutilators Yes, thank you for that explanation. I hope you don't really mutilate zombies, that's gross! LOL :D

[hayleywestenrafan1]

That's the way singers are often taught to pronounce an "open" i in singing. My choir teacher said it was because it makes it easier to hear. Pronouncing the same way you would in normal conversation is harder to hear in singing, allegedly. Also, singers with British accents tend to emphasize this even more, I've noticed (she's from New Zealand, as you may know).

[deformedlizards]

the only thing that kinda bugs me about this is her pronunciation of the letter i .... it's too closed. she should've sang an open i vowel instead .... an open i as in the word "pin" she sings a closed i like the word "seed" most of the time.

[sun1010smile]

@deformedlizards that's the latin pronunciation of the letter "i". It's also pronounced this way in italian, french, romanian, russian, spanish... ( i'm not sure about the last ones :))

[rsimoli]

pitch perfect!

[BellaRoxxxcom]

Super clean vocals wow i am so super happy these voices still exists wow wow Happy x-mas beautiful angel xxx

[wordluer135]

So pure and angelic! I have loved her voice for such a long time. This is my favorite version of the song!

[Dabarda]

What a voice. I think I want to start buying her albums.

[misiaczek051]

I love you so much ..;*

[RaulCabralCEU]

clean!

[karlusthebest]

angel..

[LinuxLinense]

Lovely song, lovely girl.

Thanks C. Gounod and the Master, J.S. Bach

[megaead69]

This makes me feel alive!! Such painful beauty...

[rminitials]

Wow.... how can she sing so perfect? The back of my neck feels all funny :3

[SJMG123]

:) yayyyy i love this song listning to it and singing it :) !!!! i love you hayley one of my idols !!!

[MrBonitao46]

Divina voz. Grato por me deixar ouvi-la . Kisses.

[franckyjo01]

Quelle belle voix cristalline une pure merveille.

[samueljyap]

Each soprano gives out an interpretation that in unique to their style. Haley's interpretation is one of the best ever. She sings so naturally and effortlessly, unlike an operatic singer. Her clear tone is just angelic. Thank God for Hayley!

[fafaffu2]

listening to this song makes me wanna do good actions for others, It's really music coming from heaven

[gratiano7]

She makes it sound so effortless, I love how she slides to hit those high notes, love her style. Just beautiful Hayley!

[manuelyo90]

it is sad to be sent this comments via pm by imalanger

I don't recall asking YOU for your opinion. I merely stated MY opinion to the person who uploaded the video, and did not include you in my comment, so with due respect - BUTT out!

so much hatred

[manuelyo90]

@ImaLanger dude, I missed a key, If you were so savant youd be some place better now, peace

[manuelyo90]

@ImaLanger melody w/o lyrics is freaking awsome. that the hell where you thinking with soso

[danyfromusa]

foarte frumos

canti daca ar fii penrtu dumnezeu ar fii mai frumos

[manuelyo90]

oh, my god.

[martinenkov]

espectacular y bello

[hayleywestenrafan1]

@ImaLanger I didn't mean that the music wasn't important at all. Of course I notice the beginning music, which is very lovely, but while she's singing I just don't notice the music very much, because I'm so focused on her perfectly pure, beautiful voice. I was never even that crazy about this song before, but I absolutely love it when I listen to Hayley.

And I do notice sopranos in choirs, because I am a soprano, and I enjoy soprano voices. :)

[smorri10]

Hayley is heaven sent when singing this sort of material. It really is difficult not to fall to your knees in blessed thankfulness knowing this sort of beauty exists in the world.

[Mincepiefly]

I wish I was a Sop instead of an Alto....

[Potichinelle]

Quelle voix, les larmes me viennent sans l'avoir appréhendé <3

[nikkiisbeastly]

this. is. undescribable.

[GosfordAbercrombie]

wut a lovely anglican sound!!!!!!!

[mcfcatholic]

@GosfordAbercrombie I love your comment. I am a convert to the Catholic Church from the Anglican Communion, but I just to say that the Anglicans do have a great choral tradition! Your comment made me laugh out loud but in a good way! :D

[davlor86]

i listen the voice of an angel

[amuziccritic]

You know what? This is the only song of hers I've ever heard on which I think Hayley's tapioca voice actually works.

[thatjevguy]

@amuziccritic What exactly is a tapioca voice? LoL you lost me on that one.

[Gullytale]

@amuziccritic And that's why you're only fit to judge/critique tapioca.

[nationalanthemrca]

This is just the right version.I have to practice this for an audition in a few days,

[seeley97]

amazing...



[EdmundHeng80]

This is by far, the BEST version of the Gounod/Bach version of Ave Maria. The best version of Caccini's Ave Maria is definitely Sumi Jo.

I still can't decide who has the best version of Schubert's Ave Maria.

[keytone333]

Bravo

[dogfool1960]

this is a very very beautiful rendition!

[bobohomania]

cute little thing



[tamara8397]

aaaaaamaaaaziiiing!

[pinchan0001a]

東日本大震災の被災者の方に、Hayley Westenraが歌うAve Mariaの曲を捧げたいです。

Her angel's voice is Beautiful.

Great voice.

To the earthquake victim in Japan.

[MsGuernseyGirl]

Goosebumpingly beautiful.

[candykisses856]

I cannot get over what a beautiful voice she has. It's so pure and angelic!! 

[intercomsec]

I first heard Hayley Westenra when I visited her home city of Christchurch NZ, and was captivated by her wonderfully pure voice.

[kuotetsuu]

her voice is so divine

[simonbassline]

IF YOU WANT TO SEE A YOUNG SOPRANO AND STAR OF THE FUTURE PERFORM THIS SONG SEARCH "OKSANA LEPSKA" ON YOUTUBE :)))))

[Blueeyeddreamer1]

Absolutely beautiful

[mynamelilla]

beautiful voice and women <3 : ))

[bparno]

Enchanting.

[jeanneowens]

beautiful

[ScottishAtheist]

Spine tingling.

[ale92LP]

Hayley is wonderful, as always... I just don't like the melody, because it doesn't seem to be played on a piano... Anyway, Hayley's voice is the one I love, powerful and sweet at the same time, magic!

[hayleywestenrafan1]

@ale92LP I think it might be a harp. But the music is hardly noticeable, and almost doesn't even matter. Hayley's incredibly pure voice is what you really hear, and think that's the idea.

[Lukozade123]

@hayleywestenrafan1 How can you think that's a harp?! It's clearly a piano!!

[hayleywestenrafan1]

@Lukozade123 Sorry, I'm not an expert on musical instruments, obviously. I just thought it sounded so soft.

[himan87]

@hayleywestenrafan1 There are both a harp and a piano playing.

[hayleywestenrafan1]

@himan87 Thanks for your input. I think there's a harp in there too. But as I mentioned, it's not really noticed or even important, because Hayley's perfectly pure voice is what you (or at least, I) mostly notice.

[mehlindaheartt2344]

@hayleywestenrafan1

Its a piano

harp is totally different in sound

I know as I play the harp and play this

[kent5026]

BinLaden, Mossulini, and 6 comrades seems not to like this..

[Lukozade123]

@ale92LP The melody isn't supposed to be played on the piano!! This piece was originally written by Bach as a piano solo called 'Prelude in C', then Gounod added the lyrics and melody of Ave Maria to it. That is why the accompaniment should never play the melody because it is not true to the original purpose of the music. And besides, a singer should be able to carry a melody without the need for it to be doubled in the piano part (which Hayley, of course, does beautifully)

[ale92LP]

@Lukozade123 Oh sorry, I used the wrong words (my english is bad, I'm Italian..). I mean that I don't like much the piano part, because it gives me the impression that is made artificially and not with a real piano... (I didn't mean that I would like to hear the melody played on the piano :D. I know the wonderful Prelude in C, I play it on the piano too, and I agree with you about the melody...). Anyway, Hayley does a wonderful job with her sweet voice, no doubt!

[dreamersan1]

О, какая же она милая! хорошенькая! о Боже!.. жизнь отдал бы за неё!..

влюблён, влюблён, без ума!!!

:)

всегда ваш Евгений..

:)

[nepherlander]

Oh my God, I'm blown away. This is so amazing, most amazing version I've found by far! I'm planned to do the solo part of this song, watching this video utterly inspires me but yet... makes me doubt myself. Need more than a century to be good like her!!

[ApostlesoYahwehUnite]

Yes! The best Ave Maria! I love Jesus.

[mehlindaheartt2344]

! cent is perceptible to a trained musician

I am a professional harpist with 33 years of experience and I have tuned more than a 100,000 strings in my life time

and recorded and believe me when I say that even 1 cent off IS PERCEPTIBLE to a trained ear

I can hear something flat if its even 1 or 2 cents off

I use a professional tuner all the time and I know of what I speak

so yes to an untrained ear yes they would not hear 1 or 2 cents but to a professional ear it is heard

[mehlindaheartt2344]

! cent is perceptible to a trained musician

I am a professional harpist with 33 years of experience and I have tuned more than a 100,000 strings in my life time

and recorded and believe me when I say that even 1 cent off IS PERCEPTIBLE to a trained ear

I can hear something flat if its even 1 or 2 cents off

I use a professional tuner all the time and I know of what I speak

so yes to an iuntrained ear yes they would not hear 1 or 2 cents but to a professional ear it is heard

[lizclegg]

I find her really weird, unengaged and unengaging in all her songs (no doubt that she can of course sign the notes)

[hayleywestenrafan1]

@lizclegg Try watching her live concert videos, particularly the one of her singing I Know You By Heart. You might just change your mind.

It must be hard to sing that high and convey emotion at the same time.

[tippitytop1]

@lizclegg

that's too bad- I thinks she sings beautifully

[Lukozade123]

@lizclegg I know exactly what you mean!! Much as her voice is beautiful, the notes just seem to come out. Basically she just sings, end of.

[TheJababb]

Can Any body Tell Me What Key She Is Singing In????

[TheJababb]

can anyone tell me what key she is singing this in????

[bergerac0327]

Gran voz, tan intensa que tuve que bajar las bocinas de la computadora, rara combinación de belleza física y vocal. Hermosa versión del Ave María de Bach,

Ave María, llena eres de gracia, El Señor este contigo, Bendita eres entre las mujeres, y bendito sea el fruto de tu vientre, Jesús, Santa María, ruega por nosotros los pecadores, ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte, Amen, Amen.

[980529489]

Los angeles no pueden tener una voz tan limpia y tan bonita

[clarrisina]

beautiful voice and beautiful young lady!!

[taggartjs]

Yes, she is great. But my favorite is still Chloe's version.

[randommagnum]

She had a little bit of Willie Nelson style tempo rubato going on in the beginning, but one thing I have to say about Hayley Westenra... Her pitch is so dead on, it's frightening. You can probably count on one hand how many cents she's off at any given time.

[hayleywestenrafan1]

@randommagnum Actually, you can't, because she's never off. ;)

[mehlindaheartt2344]

@randommagnum Believe me if you are off i or even 2 cents it would sound flat as can be

her pitch is very good and

but slower would be better

[randommagnum]

@mehlindaheartt2344 Do you know how much a cent is? it's 1/100 of a semitone. One or two cents is imperceptible.

[indiepoos]

she hits notes that i can't even imagine

[sourgirlXD]

this is my choir song :)

[indiepoos]

i love Hayley Wesenra....

[star996]

Thats not her, that is the voice of an angel! Simply beautiful!

[Bwhy09]

Where can i get this song???? Is it in an album???

[mysound4y]

@Bwhy09 use, youtube converter, you can download it directly from youtube ;)

[Bwhy09]

Where can i find this??? I need this song!!!!

[hayleywestenrafan1]

@Bwhy09 Hi, this song is on the greatest hits album, River of Dreams, The Very Best of Hayley Westenra. It was released in the UK and New Zealand, but not the U.S. I recommend the NZ version, which has the most bonus songs on it. Available from Amplifier NZ Music. UK version from Amazon UK.

[8javed]

My gosh! that voice is so powerful I have to lower the volume of my earphones coz either the mini speakers or my ear drums would break. :)

[cd72]

Gorgeous!  Just breathtakingly beautiful. This song was covered by my favorite pop contralto singer, the late great Karen Carpenter....

[1971willie]

so Beautiful,Haley you are great.

[piccolissimakikka00]

simply wonderful.

[popolone100]

bellissimo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[IWRESTLEDAHAFFIONCE]

einfach nur super!!!das geht unter die haut!!!

[cwfannumber1]

Hayley never ceases to amaze me.

[VoiceforMoments]

wonderful. I love your voice.

[Mrlion29]

precisissima!!!! Complimenti davvero!!

[yirkkiller]

My favorite version among all Hayley's versions

[hayleywestenrafan1]

Yes, she was a guest with Celtic Woman on their New Journey tour, to fill in for Meav when she wasn't there. She also was on the New Journey DVD.

[cthtyflf]

Crystalline voice, perfect pitch, adorable young person!

[chronorook]

i think i saw her with the celtic women?..this is a very excellent piece of Ave maria!!!

[Taniathegoddess]

I like it to.

[symbolorICHard]

Eine klare Stimme einfach wunderschön genau so wie man sich Musik wünscht.

Danke dafür !

[hayleywestenrafan1]

@symbolorICHard Sie sind willkommen. I hope I said that right. :)

[jsbach29501]

@hayleywestenrafan1 sehr gut haha!

[SwissAuraya]

@hayleywestenrafan1 well literaly it's correct. but the meaning is not the same. 'you are welcome' means 'gern geschehen'.

[alyssaathina09]

This voice is coming directly from Heaven. This is the most beautiful interpretation of the Ave Maria of Bach/Gounod I ever heard. Hayley Westenra has the voice of an angel.

[239maxfactor]

Wow! A dream! Her fabulous voice can really touch hearts.

[teddybiscuit]

Wow...terrific!

[SUNSNARE06]

fantastic, she is so perfect for this setting

[TradCath1233]

THANK YOU for posting this - I was so upset when this was removed from youtube!

[applepie238]

VERY VERY BEAUTIFUL, BREATHTAKING.

[iamjillianc88]

Incredible!!!

[kakikokua]

Beautiful...