Sarah Vaughan - Maria (Live from Sweden) Mercury Records 1964

"Maria" is a song from the Broadway musical West Side Story, sung by the lead character Tony. The music was written by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The song was published in 1956.
Sarah's accompanied by Kirk Stuart (piano), Charles "Buster" Williams (bass), and Georges Hughes (drums). Recorded in Sweden, 1964. (Mercury Records)
"Maria" is sung by the male lead Tony when he learns the name of the girl he's fallen in love with is "Maria". The name "Maria" is spoken or sung in the song 27 times. It begins in B major and then modulates to E-flat major.
The song is widely known for its use of the melodic interval of a tritone in the main theme. The song is an example of the use of lydian mode, which is the same as the major scale but with a raised 4th, giving the tritone characteristic of this piece.
The most beautiful sound I ever heard
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria
All the beautiful songs of the world in a single word
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria
Maria
I just met a girl named Maria
Suddenly that name
Will never ever be the same
Maria
I just kissed a girl named Maria
And suddenly I've found
How wonderful a sound
Can be
Maria
Say it loud and there's music playing
Say it soft and it's almost like praying
Maria
I'll never stop saying Maria
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria
Maria, Maria
Maria
Say it loud and there's music playing
Say it soft and it's almost like praying
Maria
I'll never stop saying Maria
The most beautiful sound I've ever heard
Maria