Bruckner composed the Te Deum between May 3 and 17, 1881, while completing his 6th Symphony. After a break to work on his 7th Symphony, he resumed composing the Te Deum on September 28, 1883, completing the vocal and orchestral parts by March 7, 1884, and the organ part "ad libitum" on March 16, 1884.
With a duration of about 25 minutes, the Te Deum is a short work compared to Bruckner's symphonies, but also to his Great Mass in F minor. Unlike Berlioz in his Te Deum of 1855, Bruckner was not interested in gigantic proportions. The conciseness of the work is perhaps crucial to its excellent reception after its first performance.
Performed in its entirety on January 10, 1886, the Te Deum was praised even by Bruckner's staunch critic, Eduard Hanslick. Gustav Mahler was so moved that he replaced the subtitle "for choir, solo voices, orchestra and organ" in his personal score with "for angelic tongues, divine souls, tormented hearts and souls purified by fire."
Bruckner considered the Te Deum to be the "pride of my life": "When the good Lord calls me to Himself one day and asks, 'What have you done with the talents I gave you?' then I will hold up the music roll with my Te Deum, and He will be a merciful judge to me.' The Te Deum is a testament to Bruckner's deep faith and a song of praise and holy joy.
Sadly, it was the last work he heard at a concert organized for him by Brahms on January 12, 1896. Unable to complete the final movement of his 9th Symphony, Bruckner decreed that the Te Deum be played in its place, solidifying it as a concert piece after his death. This solution is rarely chosen, however, because of the technical difficulties involved. Many performers prefer to end the symphony in the final silence of the Adagio.
The work is in five parts:
Te Deum laudamus – Allegro, solemn, with power, C major
Te ergo quaesumus – Moderato, F minor
Aeterna fac – Allegro, solemn, with power, D minor
Salvum fac populum tuum – Moderato, F major
In Te, Domine speravi – Moderately moving, C major
Structured in "arch form," the Te Deum progresses through various moods and themes: the powerful C major opening, the pleading F minor section, the apocalyptic D minor section, the energetic F major section and the moving C major finale showcase Bruckner's compositional skills.
Each section presents a unique character, from the unison chorus and soloists in the first part to the expressive tenor solo in the second. The third section exudes apocalyptic intensity, while the fourth section features a bass solo and energetic choral elements. The final section, which begins with a quartet of soloists, builds to a joyous fugue and ends with a powerful chorale reminiscent of the Adagio of the 7th Symphony.
Bruckner's Te Deum, a testament to his deep faith, stands as a sublime piece of choral composition, its rich structure and emotional depth leaving a lasting impression.
Listen to: Radio Filharmonisch Orkest & Groot Omroepkoor.