Georg Friedrich Händel (1685 - 1759) was a German,
later British, baroque composer who spent the bulk of
his career in London, becoming well known for his
operas, oratorios, anthems, and organ concertos. Handel
received important training in Halle and worked as a
composer in Hamburg and Italy before settling in London
in 1712; he became a naturalised British subject in
1727. He was strongly influenced both by the great
composers of the Italian Baroque and by the
middle-German polyphonic choral ...(+)
Georg Friedrich Händel (1685 - 1759) was a German,
later British, baroque composer who spent the bulk of
his career in London, becoming well known for his
operas, oratorios, anthems, and organ concertos. Handel
received important training in Halle and worked as a
composer in Hamburg and Italy before settling in London
in 1712; he became a naturalised British subject in
1727. He was strongly influenced both by the great
composers of the Italian Baroque and by the
middle-German polyphonic choral tradition.
The Te Deum for the Victory at the Battle of Dettingen
in D major, HWV 283, is the fifth and last setting by
George Frideric Handel of the 4th-century Ambrosian
hymn, Te Deum, or We Praise Thee, O God. He wrote it in
1743, only a month after the battle itself, during
which Britain and its allies Hannover and Austria
soundly routed the French.
On 27 June 1743, the British army and its allies, under
the command of King George II and Lord Stair, won a
victory at the Battle of Dettingen, over the French
army, commanded by the Maréchal de Noailles and the
Duc de Grammont. On the King's return a day of public
thanksgiving was appointed, and Handel, at that time
"Composer of the Musick to the Chapel Royal," was
commissioned to write a Te Deum and an anthem ("The
King Shall Rejoice") for the occasion. The work was
composed between 17 and 29 July 1743 and was first
performed on 27 November 1743 in the Chapel Royal of St
James's Palace, London in the presence of George
II.
The Dettingen Te Deum is not a Te Deum in the strict
sense, but a grand martial panegyric. It contains
eighteen short solos and choruses, mostly of a
brilliant, martial character, the solos being divided
between the alto, baritone, and bass. After a brief
instrumental prelude, the work opens with the
triumphant, jubilant chorus with trumpets and drums
("We praise Thee, O God"), written for the five parts,
the sopranos being divided into first and seconds,
containing also a short alto solo leading to a closing
fugue.
The second number ("All the earth doth worship Thee")
is also an alto solo with five-part chorus of the same
general character. It is followed by a semi-chorus in
three parts ("To Thee all Angels cry aloud"), plaintive
in style, and leading to the full chorus ("To Thee,
Cherubin and Seraphim"), which is majestic in its
movement and rich in harmony. The fifth number is a
quartet and chorus ("The glorious Company of the
Apostles praise Thee"), dominated by the bass, with
responses from the other parts, and is followed by a
short, full chorus ("Thine honourable, true, and only
Son"). The seventh number is a stirring bass solo with
trumpets. A fanfare of trumpets introduces the next
four numbers, all choruses. In this group the art of
fugue and counterpoint is splendidly illustrated, but
never to the sacrifice of brilliant effect, which is
also heightened by the trumpets in the accompaniments.
An impressive bass solo ("Vouchsafe, O Lord")
intervenes, and then the trumpets sound the stately
symphony to the final chorus ("O Lord, in Thee have I
trusted"). It begins with a long alto solo with
delicate oboe accompaniment that makes the effect very
impressive when voices and instruments take up the
phrase in a magnificent outburst of power and rich
harmony, and carry it to the close.
Source: Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dettingen_Te_Deum).
Although originally created for Mixed Chorus (SATB) &
Baroque Orchestra (2 Oboes, Bassoon, 3 Trumpets,
Timpani, Strings, Organ & Pianoforte), I created this
Arrangement of "Thou shalt give him everlasting
felicity" (HWV 265 Mvt. 3) for Winds (Flute, Oboe,
French Horn & Bassoon) and Strings (2 Violins, Viola &
Cello).
PARTITION