I’ve always been a big fan of emotional vocal performances, especially when it comes to sacred music. There’s just something about the ethereal quality of a great singer’s uplifting spiritual lyrics that can truly enthrall you. So when I heard about Domine Clemons’ new take on William Gomez’s iconic Ave Maria, I was beyond intrigued.
Dubbed the “Enya of Sacred Music,” Domine has certainly set out to take classical songs to new heights, and based on my listening, she’s living up to the hype.
I sat in my seat, quietly listening as music began to flow through my headphones. Very still notes danced around me, drawing me into a place of deep inner stillness and peace. Then I heard her voice; Domine’s voice. It was like nothing I had heard before. Her gorgeous tones wrapped me in a warm, comforting feeling. Her singing struck me immediately for its clarity and purity. Their melodies flowed freely to great heights, striking every note with perfect precision and yet retaining an elegant, even mystical aspect. There was not a trace of strain or stress.
As the orchestral accompaniment swelled around her, Domine’s voice only grew in both power and emotion. You could feel her pouring her whole heart and soul into every lyric. There was such intense passion and devotion in her singing. Beyond just singing the notes, she sounds to be fully living the story and spirituality of the lyrics with her complete being. I got chills down my spine as her voice crescendoed, filling me with a feeling of deep awe and wonder. It was a transcendent experience. You could hear and feel the care she took in honoring the original work while also infusing it with her signature style and artistry. Somehow, her performance felt both refreshingly modern but was sacred, a perfect blend of the old and new.
At the climactic ending, I found myself filled with an overwhelming sense of peace. As Domine’s final notes faded into the ether, I just sat in quietly. Her performance had stopped being a mere song and instead became a moving spiritual experience. Domine has a gift for using her talents to move people and spread messages of hope, healing, and faith. For anyone seeking an uplifting listen to soothe the soul, Domine Clemons’ Ave Maria is an ethereal trip worth taking. This is sacred music at its finest.