Te Deum (Charpentier)
Encyclopedia
Marc-Antoine Charpentier
composed his grand polyphonic
motet
Te Deum (H. 146) in D major
probably between 1688 and 1698, during his stay at the Jesuit Church of Saint-Louis in Paris
, where he held the position of musical director. The work is written for the group of soloists, choir, and instrumental accompaniment.
in August, 1692. The prélude to this setting is well-known in Europe
, since it is used as the theme music for the broadcasting of the European Broadcasting Union
(the organisation behind the Eurovision Song Contest
). This theme was also used for the introduction of "The Olympiad" films of Bud Greenspan.
Charpentier considered the key D-major as "bright and very warlike". The instrumental introduction, composed in the form of rondo, precede the first verset, led by the bass soloist. The choir and other soloists join gradually. Charpentier apparently intended to orchestrate the work according to the traditional exegesis of the Latin text. The choir thus predominates in the first part (verset 1-10, praise of God, heavenly dimension), and individual soloists in the second part (verset 10-20, Christological section, secular dimension). In subsequent versets, nos. 21-25, both soloists and choir alternate, and the final verset is a large-scale fugue written for choir, with a short trio for soloists in the middle.
Marc-Antoine Charpentier
Marc-Antoine Charpentier, , was a French composer of the Baroque era.Exceptionally prolific and versatile, he produced compositions of the highest quality in several genres...
composed his grand polyphonic
Polyphony
In music, polyphony is a texture consisting of two or more independent melodic voices, as opposed to music with just one voice or music with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords ....
motet
Motet
In classical music, motet is a word that is applied to a number of highly varied choral musical compositions.-Etymology:The name comes either from the Latin movere, or a Latinized version of Old French mot, "word" or "verbal utterance." The Medieval Latin for "motet" is motectum, and the Italian...
Te Deum (H. 146) in D major
D major
D major is a major scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature consists of two sharps. Its relative minor is B minor and its parallel minor is D minor....
probably between 1688 and 1698, during his stay at the Jesuit Church of Saint-Louis in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where he held the position of musical director. The work is written for the group of soloists, choir, and instrumental accompaniment.
Background
Charpentier authored six Te Deum settings, although only four of them have survived. It is thought that the composition have been performed to mark the victory celebrations and the Battle of SteinkirkBattle of Steenkerque
The Battle of Steenkerque was fought on August 3, 1692, as a part of the Nine Years' War. It resulted in the victory of the French under Marshal François-Henri de Montmorency, duc de Luxembourg against a joint English-Scottish-Dutch-German army under Prince William of Orange...
in August, 1692. The prélude to this setting is well-known in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, since it is used as the theme music for the broadcasting of the European Broadcasting Union
European Broadcasting Union
The European Broadcasting Union is a confederation of 74 broadcasting organisations from 56 countries, and 49 associate broadcasters from a further 25...
(the organisation behind the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
). This theme was also used for the introduction of "The Olympiad" films of Bud Greenspan.
Structure
The composition consists of these parts:- Prélude
- Te Deum laudamus
- Te aeternum Patrem
- Pleni sunt coeli et terra
- Te per orbem terrarum
- Tu devicto mortis aculeo
- Te ergo quaesumus
- Aeterna fac sum Sanctis tuis
- Dignare, Domine
- In te, Domine, speravi
Charpentier considered the key D-major as "bright and very warlike". The instrumental introduction, composed in the form of rondo, precede the first verset, led by the bass soloist. The choir and other soloists join gradually. Charpentier apparently intended to orchestrate the work according to the traditional exegesis of the Latin text. The choir thus predominates in the first part (verset 1-10, praise of God, heavenly dimension), and individual soloists in the second part (verset 10-20, Christological section, secular dimension). In subsequent versets, nos. 21-25, both soloists and choir alternate, and the final verset is a large-scale fugue written for choir, with a short trio for soloists in the middle.