- Te Deum (Berlioz)
The Te Deum (Op. 22 / H118) by
Hector Berlioz (1803 -1869 ) was completed in1849 . It, like the earlier and more famous ""Grande Messe des Morts"", is one of Berlioz's "architectural" works. Whilst the orchestral forces required for the "Te Deum" are by no means as titanic as that of the "Requiem", the work does call for an organ which can compete on equal terms with the rest of the orchestra. It lasts approximately fifty minutes and derives its text from the traditionalLatin Te Deum , although Berlioz made some changes to word order for dramatic purposes.Background and premiere
The "Te Deum" was originally conceived as the climax of a grand symphony in honor of Napoleon Bonaparte [ [http://www.carringbush.net/~pml/music/berlioz/te_deum/ Music of Hector Berlioz: Te deum ] ] . Some of the material used by Berlioz in this piece was originally written for his Messe Sollenelle of
1824 [ [http://www.hberlioz.com/Works/borrowings.htm The Hector Berlioz Website - Berlioz and his music - self-borrowings ] ] , thought to have been destroyed by the composer but rediscovered in1991 .tructure
Orchestration
The choral movements of the "Te Deum" are scored for:
* 4Flute s
* 4Oboe s (one doubling oncor anglais )
* 4Clarinet s (one doubling onbass clarinet )
* 4Bassoon s
* 4 Horns
* 2Trumpet s
* 2Cornet s
* 6Trombone s
* 2Ophicleide s/Tuba s
*Timpani
* 4Tenor Drum s
*Bass Drum
*Cymbal s
* Tenor solo
* 2 large 3-part (STB) mixed choirs
* 1 large unison children's choir
* Strings
* OrganThere are differences in the orchestration of the non-choral movements. The Prelude calls for a
piccolo and 6snare drum s, while the March requires a piccolo saxhorn and 12harp s.List of movements
Neglecting the rarely performed or recorded orchestral Prelude and March [ [http://www.hberlioz.com/Scores/stedeum.htm Berlioz Te Deum ] ] , there are six movements to this Te Deum, designated by Berlioz as either hymns (Hymne) or prayers (Prière), except for the last movement which he designated as both. These are listed below:
#Te Deum (Hymne)
#Tibi omnes (Hymne)
#Dignare (Prière)
#Christe, Rex gloriae (Hymne)
#Te ergo quaesumus (Prière)
#Judex crederis (Hymne et prière)Description of the movements
Trivia
*The Tibi omnes was performed during the lighting of the
Olympic Flame during the Opening Ceremony of the2000 Summer Olympics , held inSydney ,Australia .
** SeeReferences
External links
* [http://www.carringbush.net/~pml/music/berlioz/te_deum Overview of the Te Deum including history and an analysis of the movements]
* [http://www.hberlioz.com/Works/borrowings.htm Discussion and table of Berlioz's self-borrowings, including the two in the Te Deum]
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