Comparing 'Agnus Dei And The Kyrie'

The “Agnus Dei” from Guillaume Machaut’s Notre Dame Mass and the “Kyrie” from Palestrina’s Pope Marcellus Mass are both examples of sacred music, but “Agnus Dei” was composed in the Middle Ages whereas the “Kyrie” was in the Renaissance. The texts of these compositions are also in different languages, “Agnus Dei” being in Latin and the “Kyrie” in Greek. However, both compositions are polyphonic in texture and have multiple voices. The “Agnus Dei” has no instruments, as is typical with music of the Middle Ages. It uses church modes which are a characteristic of Gregorian Chant. This composition is in triple meter and has four voices, as well as a syncopated melody in the higher voices. Additionally, “Agnus Dei” is written in ABA form, where