Alwin Michael Schronen

Agnus Dei

Alwin Michael Schronen has long been known for his versatility and ability to compose works of varying degrees of difficulty. His setting of the Agnus Dei for eight-part mixed choir a cappella (SSAATTBB), which is more suitable for concert use despite the liturgical leaps in texture, represents a real, but extremely rewarding challenge for any concert choir. As it is bolero-like, this composition oozes completely split basses, therefore, providing an important, responsible foundation. The rest of the voices give this urgent, imploring character tonal repetitions, secondary parts, third-, fourth-, and fifths, as well as whispered or spoken passages to this extremely atmospheric piece of music. Eight parts, multiple key changes (F minor, F sharp minor, G minor) and the high note B'' in soprano 1, on which the longing for peace unloads, require an powerful and very intonationally-secure ensemble.