I've been able to sing Gounod's Ave Maria since a child. We have it on a Christmas album. And I used to pick up on foreign languages in songs at least, rather quickly. Somewhat more recently, I taught myself to chant the Pater Noster and sing the Sanctus and Agnus Dei. I had the songs in Latin (easy to find on the internet). And I simply copied the tunes I heard in RC Church all my life. I'd never say that I spoke Latin. But it's a beautiful language (esp. Church Latin). And I know a little about it. Anyone else have a similar story to tell?
I speak English, know some Spanish and German, but can't sing where any one would enjoy hearing it in any language.
AVE MARIA GRATIA PLENA DOMINVS TECVM: BENEDICTA TV IN MVLIERIBVS ET BENEDICTVS FRVCTVS VENTRIS TVI IESVS. SANCTA MARIA MATER DEI ORA PRO NOBIS PECCATORIBVS: NVNC ET IN HORA MORTIS NOSTRAE. AMEN.
PATER NOSTER, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen.
