latter's baptism by the former in AD 387 , contemporary scholars doubt this attribution, many assigning it to Nicetas , bishop of Remesiana in the late 4th to early 5th centuries.
Some scholars have suggested that the hymn is the merger of two (or more) earlier hymns: one to God the Father and another to God the Son. Under this schema, the second begins with the phrase ''Tu rex gloriae, Christe.'' The petitions at the end of the hymn (beginning ''Salvum fac populum tuum'') are a selection of verses from the book of Psalms , appended subsequently to the original hymn.
The hymn remains in regular use by the Catholic Church , in the Office of Readings found in the Liturgy Of The Hours , and for special occasions such as the Canonization of a Saint . It is also used together with the standard Canticle s in Morning Prayer as prescribed in the Anglican Book Of Common Prayer , and is retained by many other churches of the Lutheran and Reformed traditions. It is also used by the Eastern Orthodox Churches in the Paraklesis ( Moleben ) of Thanksgiving.
The hymn follows the outline of the Apostles' Creed , mixing a poetic vision of the heavenly liturgy with its declaration of faith.
Naming God immediately, the hymn proceeds to name all those who praise and venerate God, from the hierarchy of heavenly creatures to those Christian faithful already in heaven to the Church spread throughout the world.
The hymn then returns to its credal formula, naming Christ and recalling his birth, suffering, and glorification.
At this point the hymn turns to the subjects declaiming the praise, both the Church in general and the singer in particular, asking for mercy on past sins, protection from future sin, and the hoped-for reunification with the elect.
The text has been set to music by many Classical composers, with settings by Bruckner , Berlioz , Haydn , and Dvořák among the better-known. The prelude to Charpentier 's setting (H.146 in Hugh Wiley Hitchcock 's catalogue) is well-known in Europe on account of it being used as the theme music for some broadcasts of the European Broadcasting Union , most notably the Eurovision Song Contest .
Te Deum laudamus: We praise you, God: We praise Thee, O God:
te Dominum confitemur. we acknowledge you as Lord. we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.
Te aeternum patrem, As the eternal father, All the earth doth worship Thee:
omnis terra veneratur. All the earth venerates you. the Father everlasting.
Tibi omnes angeli, To you all the angels, To Thee all Angels cry aloud:
tibi caeli et universae potestates: to you the heavens and all the powers: the heavens and all the powers therein.
tibi cherubim et seraphim, to you the cherubim and seraphim To Thee Cherubin and Seraphin:
incessabili voce proclamant: sing with unending voice: continually do cry,
"Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus "Holy, Holy, Holy Holy, Holy, Holy:
Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Lord God of hosts. Lord God of Sabaoth;
Pleni sunt caeli et terra Heaven and earth are full Heaven and earth are full
maiestatis gloriae tuae." of the majesty of your glory." of the Majesty: of Thy glory.
Te gloriosus Apostolorum chorus, The glorious chorus of Apostles The glorious company of the Apostles:
praises you, praise Thee.
te prophetarum laudabilis numerus, the praiseworthy number of prophets The goodly fellowship of the Prophets:
praises you, praise Thee.
te martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus. the white-robed army of martyrs The noble army of Martyrs:
praises you. praise Thee.
Te per orbem terrarum The holy Church gives witness to you The holy Church throughout all the
sancta confitetur Ecclesia, throughout the whole world world: doth acknowledge Thee;
Patrem immensae maiestatis; as the Father of immense majesty; The Father: of an infinite majesty;
venerandum tuum verum et unicum Filium; your true and only Son who is to be worshipped, Thine honourable, true: and only Son;
Sanctum quoque Paraclitum Spiritum. and also the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. Also the Holy Ghost: the Comforter.
Tu rex gloriae, Christe. O Christ, you are the king of glory. Thou art the King of glory: O Christ.
Tu Patris sempiternus es Filius. You are the eternal son of the Father. Thou art the everlasting Son:
of the Father.
Tu, ad liberandum suscepturus hominem, Undertaking to liberate humanity, When thou tookest upon Thee to deliver man
non horruisti Virginis uterum. you did not dread the womb of the Virgin. Thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.
Tu, devicto mortis aculeo, By overcoming the sting of death, When Thou hadst overcome
the sharpness of death:
aperuisti credentibus regna caelorum. you opened the kingdom of heaven to believers. Thou didst open the kingdom of
heaven to all believers.
Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes, You sit at the right hand of God, Thou sittest at the right hand of God:
in gloria Patris. in the glory of the Father. in the glory of the Father.
Iudex crederis esse venturus. We believe you will come as judge. We believe that Thou shalt come:
to be our Judge.
Te ergo quaesumus, tuis famulis subveni, Therefore we ask you, assist your servants, We therefore pray Thee, help Thy servants:
quos pretioso sanguine redemisti. whom you have redeemed by your precious blood. whom Thou hast redeemed
with Thy precious blood.
Aeterna fac cum sanctis tuis Make them to be numbered among the holy ones Make them to be numbered with Thy Saints:
in gloria numerari. in eternal glory. in glory everlasting.
Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, Save your people, Lord, O Lord, save Thy people:
et benedic hereditati tuae. and bless your inheritance. and bless Thine heritage.
Et rege eos, And rule them, Govern them:
et extolle illos usque in aeternum. and lift them up into eternity. and lift them up for ever.
Per singulos dies benedicimus te; We bless you every day; Day by day: we magnify Thee;
et laudamus nomen tuum in saeculum, and we praise your name for ever, And we worship Thy Name:
et in saeculum saeculi. and throughout all ages. ever world without end.
Dignare, Domine, die isto Deign to keep us, O Lord, Vouchsafe, O Lord:
sine peccato nos custodire. without sin this day. to keep us this day without sin.
Miserere nostri, Domine, Have mercy on us, O Lord, O Lord, have mercy upon us:
miserere nostri. have mercy on us. have mercy upon us.
Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos, May your mercy be upon us, O Lord, O Lord, let Thy mercy lighten upon us:
quemadmodum speravimus in te. since we have hoped in you. as our trust is in Thee.
In te, Domine, speravi: I have hoped in you, O Lord: O Lord, in Thee have I trusted:
non confundar in aeternum. may I not be confounded for ever. let me never be confounded.
The third version of the text above is taken from the Book of Common Prayer (1662), and is the English version most commonly set to music. Notable examples include Sir William Walton 's Coronation Te Deum, written for the coronation HM Queen Elizabeth II, in 1952. Composers such as Benjamin Britten , Herbert Howells and Sir Charles Stanford have set the Te Deum many times.
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