I’ve played organ reductions of the Prelude to Charpentier’s Te Deum innumerable times, but this one is wonderful for a listen. The tempo is over the top and you get to see a serpent, among the other period instruments. And the rest of the performance is a pleasure as well.
Listen to as little or as much as you please. And have a Happy New Year for 2014!
I like it!
Thanks,
Awesome post…thank you! I downloaded an organ arrangement at IMSLP… A few questions: Was this piece composed to be used at Mass or Office or more for a concert performance? If so (liturgical use), do the drums "work" in that setting? I just find the inclusion of percussion to be a step down the slippery slope towards sacropop; and believe me, I LIKE the use of percussion in Renaissance/Baroque music! Any thoughts on this?
JohnO — M-A Charpentier composed six settings of the Te Deum for a variety occasions (the Baptism of the Dauphin to, I'm not making this up, the celebration of the King's recovery from an anal fistula). I don't believe any were composed for use in the Office, but were mostly used in non-liturgical situations. There is a wiki page on this particular (and rather famous) setting :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Te_Deum_%28Charpentier%29“ target=”_blank”> :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Te_Deum_%28Charpentier%29