In 1996 the American Guild of Organists was celebrating the organization’s 100th anniversary with their National Convention in New York City. Thousands and thousands of organists and choir directors came from all across the country. And for the culminating event, they asked us to perform the extraordinary Berlioz Te Deum. This is one of Berlioz’s greatest masterpieces, and it is one of the ultimate ceremonial pieces of all time. For this once-in-a-lifetime performance we assembled 140 professional singers, another 140 in a youth chorus, an orchestra of 100, including four sets of cymbals and military drums, and the Great Organ of The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the massive space where it was performed. Delos recorded this performance live. Their entire engineering and production teams were there, and every piece of recording equipment they owned was used for this massive undertaking. Berlioz likened the five grand opening chords of the piece – back and forth between orchestra and full organ – as a dialogue between the Emperor and Pope! This hymn of praise shifts back and forth between gigantic ceremonial gestures and moments of awe-struck quiet. In my opinion, Berlioz’s Te Deum is a greater work than his better-known Requiem. In coming days, we will play the whole work in sequence, so you can get to know it better. But now, here is the amazing first movement, live from 1996!

– Dennis Keene

BERLIOZ Opening Movement from Te Deum

Voices of Ascension
Dennis Keene, Artistic Director
Mark Kruczek, Organist

Recorded at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC
for the Delos recording Berlioz Te Deum ℗ 1997 Delos

The singers in this performance are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO.