Completed in 1849, the
Te Deum
, like the earlier and more famous
Grande Messe des Morts
, is one of Berlioz's self-described "architectural" works. While the orchestral forces required for the
are nowhere near as massive as huge as those for 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 traditional Latin liturgical form, though Berlioz made some changes to the word order for dramatic purposes. The instrumental Prelude and Marche are seldom performed in concert. Berlioz's dramatic work premiered on April 30, 1855 at the Église de Ste. Eustache in Paris with a combined force of some 900 musicians, chorus and soli under the composer's direction.
The vocal score presented here is the piano reduction by Charles Ainslie Barry that was prepared some thirty years after the premiere and issued in London by Novello. Barry's vocal score was itself re-engraved by G. Schirmer of New York early in the 20th century, which is the basis for the present digitally-enhanced reprint. With added measure numbers and careful editing to match the widely public domain available orchestral material now available, this large format vocal score will be a welcome addition for soloists, choruses and directors everywhere interested in the unique music of one of the leading exponents of musical romanticism. The large score and orchestral parts are now also available from Serenissima Music (92568).