Track Listing

1. Adagio, for violin, strings & organ in G minor, T. Mi 26 (composed by Remo Giazotto; not by Albinoni)
2. Geistliches Lied ('Lass dich nur nichts dauern'), for chorus & organ (or piano), Op. 30
3. Mass, for double chorus: Agnus Dei
4. Ave verum corpus (also anthem: 'O Lord, God of Israel'), motet for 4 voices (SATB)
5. Requiem, for 2 solo voices, chorus, organ & orchestra, Op. 48: Libera me
6. Ave Verum, motet for soprano & alto (or 2-part female chorus) & organ, Op. 65/1
7. Agnus Dei, for voice & piano (or orchestra) (Intermezzo from L'arl�sienne Suite No. 2/6, arranged by Ernest Guirard)
8. Psalm 23 ('Gott ist mein Hirt'), for female voices & piano, D. 706 (Op. posth. 132)
9. Crucifixus a 8 Voix
10. Beatus Vir (I), motet for 6 voices, 2 violins, 3 violas/trombones and continuo (from Seva morale e spirituale), SV 268
11. Christus factus est (II), gradual for chorus, 3 violins & 2 trombones in D minor, WAB 10
12. Requiem, for 2 solo voices, chorus, organ & orchestra, Op. 48: Pie Jesu
13. Hear my prayer, O Lord, anthem for chorus, violins & continuo, Z. 15 (unfinished)
14. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Ruht wohl

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #39870 in Music
• Released on: 1998-06-16
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds

Amazon.com
Building on the enormous success of the first Agnus Dei disc, its successor offers more of the same musical mood, but with a few surprises too. One of the hits of the first album was John Cameron's arrangement of Elgar's Nimrod, using the words of the Lux Aeterna. Here he really rolls his sleeves up and similarly tackles the Albinoni-Giazzoto Adagio (using the words of the Beatitudes) and the Intermezzo from Bizet's second L'Arlésienne Suite (using the text of the Agnus Dei). The role of the orchestra (the excellent ensemble Capricorn) has been expanded, and Edward Higginbottom himself has arranged a delicious string septet accompaniment to Brahms's Geistliches Lied. Much of the music is of the kind that the choir obviously eats for breakfast--which is not to say that they ever sound bland or tired, just at home. The one weak track is Monteverdi's Beatus Vir, which needs voices of more sophistication and agility than the boys can provide. That aside, this is another album that should do their reputation no harm. --Warwick Thompson

Customer Reviews

Awesome music - fidelity a bit lacking
The opening song "The Beatitudes" by Albinoni is incredibly moving, so much so that the other songs have a hard time comparing. Overall, excellent, although the fidelity could be greatly improved. I had to crank up my volume 30-40% higher to achieve a comparable volume and noticed some distortion (in the recording, not my system) that was a bit distracting. Still, an outstanding CD.

Could be better
After owning Agnus Dei I for years, and somehow misplacing the CD, I decided to buy both I and II from Amazon. Of the CD's, I is still my favorite. Agnus Dei II is a decent CD, but it doesn't have the fluidity or the dynamics that the first disk has. I guess I got spoiled with the first disk.

Good choral CD, but . . .
Agnus Dei II is a really good choral CD with a more otherworldly sound than most choral offerings. But the first Agnus Dei is better, amazing really. Own both, but if you only want one, get the first one.