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 N... more »imrod, 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« less
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
"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."
Good choral CD, but . . .
Mark Marshall | Corpus Christi, Texas | 01/22/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"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."
Could be better
MDW | Syracuse, NY USA | 07/08/2006
(2 out of 5 stars)
"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."
Music for the Season - whatever season that may be
Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 11/22/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"For those who rely on the first AGNUS DEI album - 'Music of Inner Harmony' - to restore a sense of peace in moments when all seems to be out of focus, second album with the same forces of The Choir of New College, Oxford with Edward Higginbottom conducting will be a welcome addition. The major difference between the two albums is this second issue adds the musical group of instrumentalists called Capricorn instead of relaying on the organ as the sole accompaniment. It some ways this selection subtitled 'Music to Soothe the Soul' is less ethereal and more grounded.
Included are some very well performed works, including the 'Beatitudes', a choral setting of the well known Albinoni 'Adagio' by John Cameron, and the 'Ave Verum Corpus' of Gabriel Faure as well the 'Libera me' and 'Pie Jesu' from his Requiem. But when the small instrumental ensemble accompanies the 'Ruht Wohl' from Bach's St John Passion the paucity of sound from the instrumentalists is somehow matched by a less than committed sound from the chorus. The concept of continuing the mood of the first Agnus Dei album is solid though, and multiple listenings makes these small criticisms disappear. Grady Harp, November 09"