The last part of the mass setting, and by far the angstiest. I need to think how to explain this properly for a commentary but — well, I guess we’re concentrating on the weight of the sins of the world aspect, and the pain/sacrifice of Jesus being the lamb of God.
Also, the Dona nobis pacem — grant us peace…. I feel like those words had almost the most weight of meaning and expectation in setting of all of this, because they’re very direct, especially coming at the end, and there’s something of a tradition of singing them as a prayer for world peace… Here they’re laid out very plain and cold and simple, and that’s intentional.
Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi
miserere nobis
Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi
dona nobis pacemLamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world
grant us peace.