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Moments of hope, when they did not find themselves in the line of victims sent to the gas chambers. Moments of relief, when they were left alone for a few days and could eat their meagre meals. Moments of hope, when they survived yet another day. Moments of relief, when they could rest their battered limbs on their straw beds at night for a few hours.
At such moments many probably said a prayer of thanks. Some may have contemplated a song of praise for the Lord. ‘Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest’.
Agnus Dei
‘Agnus Dei’ – the Lamb of God. A symbol, representing the purity of Jesus Christ who was sacrificed by God, his Father for the sins of mankind.
The lyrics show that this section of the Requiem is another prayer, this time a petitionary prayer. I have interpreted it as an petitionary prayer from the victims for forgiveness and eternal peace for the sinners – their tormentors.
After the pizzicato introduction by the low strings, the woodwinds open the theme. Then the alto and baritone adopt the theme in a canon. The choir answers with ‘qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem’. Who take away the sins of the world, grant them rest.
The violin renders the theme in a solo variation, after which the choir concludes the first section. The second section is dominated by a fugue on the theme from the entire choir, ending in a canon and a reprise of the opening theme by the alto and baritone. After the answer from the choir, a final chord from the strings concludes this second section.
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