Work
Agnus Dei
for SATBB choir
About
Chris Artley's 'Agnus Dei', was the 3rd prize winner in the inaugural International Choral Composition Competition Japan 2015. This a cappella setting of 'Agnus Dei', features a slow, hauntingly beautiful melody, sung first by sopranos and then by baritones, accompanied by lush harmony infused with jazz chords, from the rest of the choir. At the words, 'lux aeterna' (light eternal), there is a dramatic change of sound world, with the use of cluster chords and an impassioned melody built from the 'B Lydian' scale. The music reaches a climax at the golden section of the piece (bar 35), with the words 'lux aeterna', sung fortissimo in eight-part harmony. The opening Agnus Dei then returns, this time featuring both soprano and baritone on the melody and comes to a close with a stunning pianissimo ending on the words, 'dona nobis pacem' (grant us peace).
A score of Agnus Dei can be obtained from Pana Musica HERE
Difficulty note
Ideally suited to chamber choirs