To help celebrate All Saints’ 140 years of ministry in Winnipeg, our Evensong on October 22 will feature a performance of Henry Purcell’s Te Deum in D. Purcell composed this brilliant setting of the Te Deum (We praise Thee, O God) for the St. Cecilia Day celebrations, November 22, 1694 in St Bride’s Church in Fleet Street. This elaborate setting of the text was the first of its kind in English Church music, and served as a model for Handel’s setting of the same text 20 years later. Composed in a style that was vastly different than the very conservative liturgical settings at the time, Purcell's setting presented a very modern, even flamboyant verse anthem style, scored not only for treble and adult choirs, soloists, strings and continuo, but also for trumpets. It caused such a sensation, that Baroque composer Thomas Tudway, who was in attendance, wrote:
“There is in this Te Deum, such a glorious representation, of ye Heavenly Choirs, of Cherubins, & Seraphins, falling down before ye Throne & singing Holy, Holy, Holy &c As hath not been Equall’d, by any Foreigner, or Other; He makes ye representation thus; he brings in ye treble voices, or Choristers, singing, To thee Cherubins, & Seraphins, continually do cry; and then ye Great Organ, Trumpets, the Choirs & at least thirty or forty instruments besides, all Joine, in most excellent Harmony, & Accord; The Choirs singing only, ye word Holy; Then all Pause, and ye Choristers repeat again, continually do cry; Then, ye whole Copia Sonorum, of voice, & instruments, Joine again, & sing Holy; this is done 3 times upon ye word Holy only, changeing ev’ry time ye Key, & accords; then they proceed altogether in Chorus, wth, Heavn’n & Earth are full of ye Majesty of thy glory; This most beautifull, & sublime representation, I dare challenge, all ye Orators, Poets, Painters &c of any Age whatsoever, to form so lively an Idea, of Choirs of Angels singing, & paying their Adorations.”
While our performance will be slightly less grand, with a modest orchestra, it should none the less be a sublime presentation.
Please join us for Evensong on the fourth Sunday of most months. This meditative 45 minute service uses the traditional language from the Book of Common Prayer and features glorious music from our choir. A casual reception follows.
Finish your weekend on a relaxing note, or start your evening off with a refreshing musical experience.