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Festival Te Deum

From Wikisource
For other versions of this work, see Te Deum.
Festival Te Deum
lyrics by Anonymous, composed by Arthur Sullivan

The Festival Te Deum is the popular name for an 1872 composition by Arthur Sullivan, written to celebrate the recovery of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) from typhoid fever. The prince's father, Prince Albert, had died of typhoid fever in 1861, and so the prince's recovery was especial cause for celebration.

269706Festival Te DeumArthur SullivanAnonymous

The song is written in full polyphonic counterpoint, with a great deal of repetition, which is not reproduced here.


1. Chorus

First section

We praise Thee, O God, we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship Thee, the Father everlasting.
(etc.)

Second section

To Thee all Angels cry aloud, the Heav'ns and all the Pow'rs therein.
To Thee all Angels cry aloud, cry aloud.
(etc.)
2. Solo (soprano) and Chorus

[Soprano]

To thee Cherubin and Seraphin: continually do cry,

[Chorus]

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth;
Heav'n and earth are full of the Majesty of Thy Glory.

[Soprano]

To thee Cherubin and Seraphin: continually do cry,

[Chorus]

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth;

[Soprano]

To thee Cherubin and Seraphin: continually do cry,
Holy, Holy, Holy, Heav'n and earth are full of the Majesty of Thy Glory.
(etc.)


3. Chorus
The glorious company of the Apostles praise Thee.
The goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise Thee.
The noble army of Martyrs praise Thee.
The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge Thee;
The Father of an infinite Majesty;
Thine honourable true and only Son; also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter.
Thou art the King of Glory
(etc.)
Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ.
Thou art the King,
The King of Glory,
Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
(etc.)
4. Solo (soprano)
When Thou tookest upon Thee to deliver man,
Thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.
When Thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death,
Thou didst open the Kingdom of Heav'n to all believers.
(etc.)
Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the Glory of the Father.
(etc.)
5. Chorus

[All]

We believe that Thou shalt come to be our Judge.

[Tenors]

We therefore pray Thee, help Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood.

[Sopranos]

We therefore pray Thee, help Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood.

[All]

Make them to be numbered with Thy Saints, in glory everlasting.
(etc.)
6. Solo (soprano) and Chorus

First section
[Solo]

O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine heritage.

[Chorus]

O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine heritage.

[Solo]

Govern them, and lift them up for ever.

[Chorus]

Govern them, and lift them up for ever.
(etc.)

Second section [Tenors, then basses, then taken up by all in polyphony]

Day by day we magnify thee;
And we worship thy Name, ever world without end.
(etc.)
7. Chorus

[Sopranos]

Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.
O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.

[All]

O Lord, let Thy mercy lighten upon us, as our trust is in Thee.
O Lord, in Thee have I trusted: let me never be confounded.
(etc, going through several changes of tune.)
O Lord, save the King. O Lord, save the King,
And mercifully hear us when we call upon Thee. [1]
Amen. (etc.)

Notes

[edit]
  1. Or "Oh Lord have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us. / O Lord, in Thee have I trusted, / Let me never be confounded."

Sheet music

[edit]