Customer Reviews

Agnus Dei II: Music to soothe the soul

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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.

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.

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.

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

Not sure why people are not liking this disc - I like it quite a bit. I like the robustness of Albinoni's Adagio in G Minor. I also quite like Frank Martin's rather angular Mass for Double Choir.

I happened upon this album while looking for some choral works for a church choir. Not schooled in the literature, I had never heard of Tomaso Albinoni. His Adagio ("Beatitudes") is a choral emotion feast in Italian style, the likes of which I have never heard before. Unless...did the Coppollas (pere et fils) use it in the soundtrack to Godfather 3? I'm not sure. Great piece. The rest of the album is okay. Standard fare.

I bought this CD because it said Eamon as an artist. WTH? I can't find Eamon anywhere on this CD. It says Eamon on the other one, but I'm not even going to try. Never again will a buy a CD associated with Agnus Dei.

LAST WORD: Don't buy this if your buying it for Eamon music.