(Johann Sebastian Bach, Adapted Charles Gounod, Arr Peter Knight) Ars Nova Music BMI 2:35

Original album mix:
– CHRISTMAS PORTRAIT LP and W. German CD

1984 remix with choir:
– ANTHOLOGY (89)
– CHRISTMAS PORTRAIT SPECIAL EDITION

1990 remix:
– ANTHOLOGY (97)
– JAPANESE SINGLE BOX
– CHRISTMAS COLLECTION
– CHRISTMAS WITH THE CARPENTERS (Time-Life)
– ESSENTIAL COLLECTION
– FROM THE TOP (reissue)
– MAGICAL MEMORIES OF THE CARPENTERS
– THEIR GREATEST HITS AND FINEST PERFORMANCES (Readers Digest)

1990 remix, sped up:
– FROM THE TOP (original 12×12 issue)

Chris May says:
1978 Original Mix WITHOUT choir, Fender Rhodes prelude segue into / 1984 Remix WITH choir, Fender Rhodes prelude segue into / 1990 Remix for inclusion on “From The Top”, with VSO acceleration, taking the key up one semi-tone, no instrumental prelude segue into / 1990 Remix for inclusion on Time Life’s “Christmas With The Carpenters”, WITHOUT VSO acceleration restoring it to original key of “A-flat”, DX-7 digital electric piano prelude segue into. *Note: The 1990 mix also included on subsequent reissues of “Christmas Portrait”, with stereo piano prelude segue into

TRIVIA: “Ave Maria” originally was scored with full choir, which was intended to be included in the original mix in 1978. The parts were misplaced, unable to be located in time for the mixing deadline, therefore forcing Richard as well as engineers Roger Young and Dave Iveland to mix the song without the choir, much to the dismay of Richard and Karen. Months after its release, the parts were located. During the assembling of the Carpenters’ second Christmas album entitled “An Old Fashioned Christmas”, the choir was recorded, giving the song its first remix to be included WITH choir on the Special Edition reissue of “Christmas Portrait” in 1984. This version is heard on all subsequent remixes/reissues of the song and its related album reissue(s).