HENRY PURCELL'S "TE DEUM"

According to THE CONCISE COLUMBIA ENCYCLOPEDIA, Henry Purcell (c. 1659-1695) is "considered England's finest native composer." He lived a brief 36 years -- one is left wondering what sort of music treasury he would have left had he lived a normal life-span!

In this, my first blog posting for 2012, I would like to feature Te Deum composed by Henry Purcell in 1693 and performed by the  Clare College Choir and the Cambridge Baroque Brass of London, in 2004. It is split into two parts for those who can not commit time to the full performance. Feel free to make a copy of the lyrics below if you want to follow the performance. Enjoy. 

Part 1: Go to  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMJwQeEXSVI&fmt=18

We praise thee, O God :
we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship thee :
the Father everlasting.
To thee all Angels cry aloud :
the Heavens, and all the Powers therein.
To thee Cherubim and Seraphim :
continually do cry,
Holy, Holy, Holy :
Lord God of Sabaoth;
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty :
of thy glory.
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 : O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son : of the Father.

Part 2 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6QFj4jimko&feature=related
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 Heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God : in the glory of the Father.
We believe that thou shalt come : to be our Judge.
We therefore pray thee, help thy servants :
whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
Make them to be numbered with thy Saints : in glory everlasting.

[added later, mainly from Psalm verses:]
O Lord, save thy people :
and bless thine heritage.
Govern them : and lift them up for ever.
Day by day : we magnify thee;
And we worship thy Name : ever world without end.
Vouchsafe, O Lord : to keep us this day without sin.
O Lord, have mercy upon us : have mercy upon us.
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.

(From The Book of Common Prayer)