Agnus Dei (music) Agnus Dei (music) Agnus Dei, referring to the Christian theological concept of the Lamb of God and the associated liturgical text from the Roman Catholic Latin Mass, has been set to music by many composers, as it is normally one of the movements or sections in a sung Mass setting. However, sometimes it stands alone, e.g. it provides the lyrics for Samuel Barber's "Agnus Dei", the choral arrangement of his "Adagio for Strings". The Agnus Dei is a setting of the "Lamb of God" litany, based on John the Baptist's reference in to Jesus ("Behold the Lamb of God that
Missa L'homme armé (Palestrina) fimus mass gave new life to work. In the Sanctus, the tenor sings the L'homme armé melody beginning on F; on the jubilant text "Hosanna," the note values are diminished such that the structural function is hidden. Agnus Dei I continues to rise to the climax which is pitched 'G'. Agnus Dei II begins as if the cantus firmus is present on "A," but proceeds to a freely composed trio. Agnus Dei III places the now-familiar tune in extremely long notes sung by the highest voice. Beginning on "A", an indication instructing the soprano to "sing without ceasing" is present,