It's a remarkable fact to consider: Of all of the Celtic Woman videos that have been uploaded to YouTube, one video has far and away the most views. In fact, as of this writing, it has been seen & heard over four million times.

Four million. The number staggers the imagination.

And what song might that be?

Chloe's "Ave Maria," of course, from the first Celtic Woman concert.

That testifies to the appeal of Celtic Woman when they perform songs in the classical genre.

At any rate, like many of Chloe's solo songs, "Ave Maria" has inspired YouTube users to assemble a number of creative videos. As one might expect, many of those involve slideshows of images of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Here are three such "Ave Maria" videos that use Chloe's song as a soundtrack:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37Gv5eIRB-M&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLzpvyB5WVs&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miAPEk-I4R4

Another video brings together a montage of clips from Mel Gibson's gripping film The Passion of the Christ, focussing on the hearbreaking suffering of Mary at watching Jesus crucified:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAVFT-MOfRE&fmt=18

And to lighten the mood after that experience, here is another "Ave Maria" video, this one a collection of images of babies (which fits in with the maternal connotations that this song evokes):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_V5Xgy5cU4&fmt=18

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Chloe's "Panis Angelicus" from Slane Castle is my all-time favourite CW concert video. This song has likewise inspired the creation of several YouTube montages.

This video assembles images of anime angels (how fitting!):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WehBRzMelWs&fmt=18

And this video shows a sequence of lovely images of Ireland over the first 3:54. Then the soundtrack changes to a dissonant modern song, so feel free to change the channel at the point. But the images of Ireland that play over the first section are idyllic and beautiful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEVimS4NW0s&fmt=18

Here's a really lovely new "Ave Maria" video featuring many beautiful paintings of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czy6_5n_-T8&fmt=18

A bit less interesting, here is a video of night-time photographs of Osaka, Japan. I don't really see the connection to the song, but it's interesting to see images of a city that I've never visited. The pictures are lonely and, although filled with modern architecture, in their own way kind of beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qhfs7oav88&fmt=18

Here's a brand-new fan video for "Ave Maria":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brEAY9VB0uM&fmt=18

I love the many Virgin Mary images, but the dissolves are sometimes a tad distracting. Lovely pictures though.

Yes, it's a beautiful video... but, when the first Mary statue appeared, I'd swear the eyes moved. Weird, I know. Probably I'm just tired tonight.

Here's a charming new fanmade "Panis Angelicus" video, with lovely images on religious and secular themes, all tied together by the aesthetic of beauty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO_sBdFUKfk

Here's an interesting case. This is a beautiful new fan video for Ave Maria, featuring images of stained glass and classical paintings:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiC5ll1SGtM&fmt=18

BUT, although the listing indicates Chloe Agnew as the singer, this is definitely NOT the recording of "Ave Maria" that appears on her first solo CD. It's subtly but quite definitely different.

Does anyone know where this recording comes from?

Personally, I liked her earlier recording of this song A LOT better; this is a perfect example of how her voice has changed over the years. On the upside she has more power now than she once did; but also this recording plainly shows how her upper register is also no longer quite what it once was. Compare the high notes near the end on both songs and it becomes entirely evident.

By the way, though I miss her upper register, her gain in power as she has matured is massive; this will be very evident when you hear one song in particular from "Songs From the Heart."

Interesting insight, Scott. I don't disagree with anything you say. I am forever dismayed by fans who prioritize power over beauty of tone. I don't particularly care whether, say, a different singer can belt out a tune in a big voice. Big deal. Power is easy. But crystalline clarity, sweetness of tone, lyrical beauty -- these are unique qualities.

Perhaps it's a product of the over-amplified age in which we live, or that some fans come to CW from a modern music background rather than classical background.

But I'm still curious -- do you know where this recording might have been taken from? For which disc did Chloe re-record Ave Maria?

Ugh!! I typed in my answer to your question but for some reason it did not appear.

The song is from the Celtic Woman CD "The Greatest Journey". It was recorded specifically for the CD. You might have thought that TGJ was merely a "greatest hits" CD... it was more than that.

I did think so! My goodness, I had no idea.

So that CD has, unique to itself, "Pie Jesu" and the new "Ave Maria." Is there any other new Chloe-related content on it?

Well, it also has the 5-girl "Sky Dawn Sun" (the Slane CD has Hayley, but Greatest Journey does not, and Chloe performs part of Hayley's role, same as you see in the actual concerts).

Here's an "Ave Maria" video that's well worth a view. It edits together a series of very spiritual video clips, most involving statues or images of the Virgin Mary. One shot with candles, in a church, is especially beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjBHukKg1jo&fmt=18

Also, to get us in the mood for the Christmas season, here's an "Ave Maria" slideshow of Christmas-themed images:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ37UcCAdyY&fmt=18

Very pretty.