Fall to your knees and hear the angel voices....

Ah, ****, and L.P. at the three tenors concert at the baths of Caracalla (I have an orig tape) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EbQYYaGdoM&feature=related

That's the one, except for at my churches in childhood. Different emotions.

Edgarb - I'm dyed in wool dylan but that excerpt is not what moves me in nostalgia and joy. Not to argue, we vary.

I had a friend at that Carracalla concert, and, at the time, I despised opera. Despised as in shutting my boss' door so to shut his playing of whatsername up.
(I since bought an album by whatsername, whose name I'll remember soon after I post).

We laughed about it then and laughed harder when I turned onto opera.

Many people started listening to opera after that concert. Popularization. Probably icky to the people who really knew opera.
But an eye opener to me.

Now to look up Bjorling..

This is my favorite...by far.

Carol of the Bells by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Actually, I like most of TSO's renditions.

One more, but worth it -

Bjorling on O Holy Night -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nrDfqoYzNo

Following up on Maporsche's offering, it is hard to explain how their music makes me feel, but the Trans-Siberian Orchestra does make me feel as well as accompanying their music with a light show that is so intense you are physically exhausted after one of their concerts.

From their show/album "The Lost Christmas Eve":

Yes, a good melody is a good melody regardless of what the song is about. I really like O Holy Night, Amazing Grace, If That isn't Love, Down to the River to Pray, How Great Thou Art, Ave Maria... so many more if we go to classical music.

Ave Maria can get me at the knees.

To explain that in part, that was the music at my parent's wedding, known to me as my mother's wedding. Which I heard some time later
in church/w/organ. I'm not sure every rendition of Ave Maria could do it, but it's possible I could be knockneed by it one more time. Gratia plena.

To stop with my effusion, I don't really respond to Amazing Grace in the same way I assume others do. 's okay.

We have a recording of "Oh Holy Night" sung in German. I have always found it very moving. Actually, I find many religious songs moving. After all, the people who wrote them put their hearts and souls into the music. I would say the same for religious paintings and architecture.

Thinking about it, the religious songs that are sung in a language that is unfamiliar to me are the most emotionally satisfying...................Ditto for opera.

Thats funny. I feel sort of Eh about LP .. they way you describe Charlotte. HA

he does a few obvious songs that I love, but his accent is a bit too heavy for my tastes.
I think I lean to Charlotte simply because she was so young... up on stage.. with these pipes that just knock you over. Then she would stand there and smile like you just handed her a barbie. I love it.

Bingo.
Ave maria is one of my life time favorite songs.. and I have many versions that i could listen to over and over again.
One of the best types of music to me is southern style church music. Black baptist churches to be exact.
I will go to one of those churches just TO listen to their music . And christian religion is not on my plate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEovhr5hPOo
The Prayer - Charlotte Church and Josh Groban
chills

Jingle bells, shotgun shells
BBs in the air
Take a shot at old St. Nick
And listen to him swear-ear ! ! !

Oh Holy Night is my favorite Christmas song.

I also love Amazing Grace when done properly. And Schubert's Ave Maria.

*edited because I always get Brahms and Schubert's version mixed up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy-ZvD0Pnq0

I think it's the WAY it's sung rather than the words.

I find that the music is what moves me more than the actual words.

Is it bad that I don't like Pavarotti either? I prefer Andrea Bocelli.

Here are a couple of Christmas songs that lift my spirit.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PGweGgRSje4

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=OTgMe5demPc