Christe, du Lamm Gottes Christe, du Lamm Gottes "" (Christ, you Lamb of God) is a Lutheran hymn, often referred to as the German Agnus Dei. Martin Luther derived the words as a translation of the Latin Agnus Dei from the liturgy of the mass, and the tune from an older model. The hymn was first published in 1528. It has been the basis for several musical settings by composers such as Bach, Mendelssohn and Hessenberg. It appears in the current German hymnals, both the Protestant "Evangelisches Gesangbuch" (EG 190:2) and the Catholic "Gotteslob" (GL 208). When Luther introduced the Reformation, he tried to
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,