Te Deum

Te Deum

1. an ancient Latin hymn in rhythmic prose, sung or recited at matins in the Roman Catholic Church and in English translation at morning prayer in the Church of England and used by both Churches as an expression of thanksgiving on special occasions

2. a musical setting of this hymn

3. a service of thanksgiving in which the recital of this hymn forms a central part

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Te Deum 

(Te Deum laudamus), a Roman Catholic hymn composed in the fourth century and sung at services on holy days and solemn occasions and during processions. Composers wrote polyphonic elaborations of the liturgical melody of the Te Deum beginning in the 13th century, and Te Deums written for concert performance at secular festivals appeared in the 18th century. The latter were usually written for choir, or choirs, and symphony orchestra, often with vocal soloists and organ. Handel’s Te Deum is a noteworthy example. Te Deums were composed in the 19th century by Berlioz, Liszt, Verdi, Bruckner, and Dvořák.

A corresponding work in the Orthodox Church is the Khvalebnaia pesn’ (Song of Praise), or Tebe boga khvalim (God, we praise thee), an anonymous znamennyi chant with later versions by various composers. There are settings for one or two choirs by D. S. Bortnianskii, S. I. Davydov, and N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov.