The Last Chance Before Lent: Haydn’s Te Deum

Last Chance

Yes, this is the last chance: Lent is approaching fast. Ash Wednesday is just two days away. This is our last chance to get in a joyful sacred composition by our old friend Joseph Haydn before the penitential season begins.

     

Today’s selection is a setting for the ancient prayer Te Deum (see my discussion of the prayer itself below the video).  This is the third different setting of the Te Deum I’ve posted on this site.  Last year I shared a very recent composition (as in, premiered in December 2019 recent) by Pedro Camacho.  I have also posted a version by Domenico Scarlatti that was first performed in the 1720s.

At the Request of the Empress

Haydn’s magnificent setting was probably composed in 1799, and had its public premier in 1800.  Haydn wrote the piece at the request of the Empress Maria Theresa, for which reason it is known as (what else?) The Te Deum for the Empress Marie Therese. The Aylesbury Choral Society has published a brief but very informative explanation of this wonderful sacred composition HERE.  The Ballard Performing Arts brings us the stirring rendition below. Their ensemble includes the Combined Advanced Chorale, Concert Choir, Chamber Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra, Selected Wind Ensemble and Percussion.

Featured image top of page: The Holy Trinity, by Francesco Cairo, 1650

Te Deum

The Te Deum is an ancient Christian prayer. It takes its title from it’s first line in Latin: Te Deum Laudamus, “We praise you, God.” For many centuries Christians would sing this prayer as a hymn of celebration and thanks to the Lord. This was not only true, however, of events of clearly religious significance such as the defeat of the Muslim Turks in the Battle of Lepanto in 1572. It punctuated more worldly triumphs as well, in recognition that all good things come from God. For example, the English Jing Henry V ordered his army to sing the Te Deum after their victory over the French at Agincourt in 1415.

Shakespeare includes this event in his play Henry V.While nowhere near as old as the Psalms, the Te Deum is still very ancient. It was composed in the 3rd or 4th century. It’s actual authorship is unknown, but Christians have attribute it to various eminent people over the years. It could have been St. Ambrose and/or St. Augustine, St. Hillary of Poitiers, or St. Nicetas of Remesiana. Or, maybe some unguessed author. Many different composers have set it to music over the centuries. As noted above, this is the third setting I’ve posted just on this blog.

Te Deum in Latin and in English Translation:

TE DEUM laudamus: te Dominum confitemur.	O GOD, we praise Thee: we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.
Te aeternum Patrem omnis terra veneratur.	Everlasting Father, all the earth doth worship Thee.
Tibi omnes Angeli; tibi Caeli et universae Potestates;	To Thee all the Angels, the Heavens and all the Powers,
Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim incessabili voce proclamant:	all the Cherubim and Seraphim, unceasingly proclaim:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth.	Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Pleni sunt caeli et terra maiestatis gloriae tuae.	Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of Thy glory.
Te gloriosus Apostolorum chorus,	The glorious choir of the Apostles,
Te Prophetarum laudabilis numerus,	the wonderful company of Prophets,
Te Martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus.	the white-robed army of Martyrs, praise Thee.
Te per orbem terrarum sancta confitetur Ecclesia,	Holy Church throughout the world doth acknowledge Thee:
Patrem immensae maiestatis:	the Father of infinite Majesty;
Venerandum tuum verum et unicum Filium;	Thy adorable, true and only Son;
Sanctum quoque Paraclitum Spiritum.	and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
Tu Rex gloriae, Christe.	O Christ, Thou art the King of glory!
Tu Patris sempiternus es Filius.	Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
Tu ad liberandum suscepturus hominem, non horruisti Virginis uterum.	Thou, having taken it upon Thyself to deliver man, didst not disdain the Virgin’s womb.
Tu, devicto mortis aculeo, aperuisti credentibus regna caelorum.	Thou overcame the sting of death and hast opened to believers the Kingdom of Heaven.
Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes, in gloria Patris.	Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father.
Iudex crederis esse venturus.	We believe that Thou shalt come to be our Judge.
Te ergo quaesumus, tuis famulis subveni: quos pretioso sanguine redemisti.	We beseech Thee, therefore, to help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood.
Aeterna fac cum sanctis tuis in gloria numerari.	Make them to be numbered with Thy Saints in everlasting glory.
V. Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, et benedic hereditati tuae.	V. Save Thy people, O Lord, and bless Thine inheritance!
R. Et rege eos, et extolle illos usque in aeternum.	R. Govern them, and raise them up forever.
V. Per singulos dies benedicimus te.	V. Every day we thank Thee.
R. Et laudamus nomen tuum in saeculum, et in saeculum saeculi.	R. And we praise Thy Name forever, yea, forever and ever.
V. Dignare, Domine, die isto sine peccato nos custodire.	V. O Lord, deign to keep us from sin this day.
R. Miserere nostri, Domine, miserere nostri.	R. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.
V. Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos, quemadmodum speravimus in te.	V. Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, for we have hoped in Thee.
R. In te, Domine, speravi: non confundar in aeternum.	R. O Lord, in Thee I have hoped; let me never be put to shame.