Te Deum in C: Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
The Te Deum is an ancient hymn of praise, the words of which are believed to have been the result of a literary collaboration between St Augustine (c354 – c430) and St Ambrose (c330 - c397). The text consists of thirty verses of chant in praise of God and of Christ, and in supplication to Christ. It has been used since the sixteenth century in the western protestant church as the principal canticle at the divine office of Matins. Other historical and liturgical uses include as a hymn of victory on the battleground, at the consecration of bishops, and as a recessional hymn after some significant act of worship or liturgical drama. The structure of the text can be presented as follows.
