Benjamin Britten - War Requiem: Agnus Dei

I sang in the college choir, and one semester, we performed this selection from Benjamin Britten's War Requiem. One day, I pictured a tremolo guitar replacing the orchestra.

I'm not a tenor, so I transposed the piece to a range suitable for my voice. The arrangement also includes a "Chiffy Organ" (that's what it's called on my keyboard) and an acoustic bass.

Here's the text:

One ever hangs where shelled roads part.
In this war, He too lost a limb
But His disciples hide apart,
And now the Soldiers bear with Him.

Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi,
dona eis requiem

Near Golgotha strolls many a priest
And in their faces, there is pride
That they were flesh-marked by the Beast
By whom the gentle Christ's denied

Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi,
dona eis requiem

The scribes on all the people shove
And bawl allegience to the state

Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi

But they who love the greater love
Lay down their lives, they do not hate

Dona eis requiem sempiternam
Dona nobis pacem

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posted by NemesisVex (2 comments total)

That was a really interesting performance and arrangement! :) And I do love Britten. I starred in a children's opera of his once...
posted by MaiaMadness at 3:46 PM on May 30, 2010

I should probably mention the organ part was taken from sheet music, but I had to figure out the guitar part.
posted by NemesisVex at 4:34 AM on May 31, 2010