Voices of Connection: 05/09 Berlioz: Te Deum - Final Movement
Last weekend we had a conductus for just two sopranos. Well, today we go as far in the opposite direction as possible! On July 9, 1996 we performed Berlioz’s mammoth Te Deum for the Centennial National Convention of the American Guild of Organists at the immense Cathedral of St. John the Divine here in NYC. In front of an audience of over 4,000 organists and choir directors, our musical forces comprised 140 professional singers, another 140 in a youth chorus, and orchestra of 100 (including 4 sets of military drums and crash cymbals!), and the Great Organ of the Cathedral. It was recorded live by Delos and constituted the largest recording project they ever had. The piece is one of Berlioz’s great masterpieces. Throughout its six movements it depicts a musical battle between defeat and victory - particularly so in this final, climactic movement which Berlioz called the most colossal, grandiose piece he ever composed. We can certainly relate to this battle in terms of what we are going through now in our present lives. Near the end of the movement, the music keeps repeating “Non confundar. Salvum fac,” “Don’t let us be overcome! Save us!” Climax after climax breaks forth, and in one of the most extraordinary endings in all of French music, the work reaches its magnificent, blazing apotheosis, as Redemption finally triumphs. This piece was requested by the world-famous organist and Messiaen specialist Jon Gillock, who has been listening to our series from his lock-down home in Paris, France. Thanks, Jon!
– Dennis Keene
BERLIOZ Te Deum - Final Movement
Voices of Ascension Chorus & Orchestra
Dennis Keene, Artistic Director & Conductor
Mark Kruczek, Organist
Young Singers of Pennsylvania
Susan and Joseph Ohrt, Directors
from the Delos recording Berlioz Te Deum ℗ 1997 Delos
The singers in this performance are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO.