Sung by: Soprano, mezzo-soprano, Chorus.

Latin

Agnus dei,
qui tollis peccata mundi,
dona eis requiem.

Dona eis requiem sempiternam.

English

Lamb of god,
who takest away the sins of the world,
Grant them rest.

Grant them eternal rest.


Soprano and Mezzo-soprano begin singing 'Agnus dei' in octaves, without accompaniment from the orchestra.
The Chorus repeats their melody. Then both women sing the same theme again, but now in a minor key, with orchestral accompaniment. The chorus again repeats but in a major key.
The soprano and mezzo sing again the same melody in major, now accompanied by flutes alone which lead to an answer from the chorus in major, 'Dona eis', with strings hovering magnificently from above.
The chorus then repeats 'dona eis' twice answered by the women- in the second throwing a sudden shadow over the music's peaceful ambiance, but the soprano and mezzo quickly interpret it in a major key and the 'Agnus dei' ends peacefully.

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