American Te Deum, An
by Z. Randall Stroope
SSA - Sheet Music

SSA choir, piano, violin, cello and percussion (SSA choir)

SKU: AN.AMP-5019

Composed by Z. Randall Stroope. Alliance Music Publications #AMP 5019. Published by Alliance Music Publications (AN.AMP-5019).

Stroope.

I decided on the Te Deum text, written some sixteen centuries ago, as the centerpiece for the work. Of course, literally hundreds of musical settings of Te Deum have been written, but the vast majority of them are for mixed chorus and not for treble voices. I also wanted to vary from the traditional text in places and find writings from American poets that I could infuse into the mix.

Lastly, I wanted to explore some musical style changes in various movements of An American Te Deum that would reflect a bit of the melting pot of styles that one finds in American society. For example, the first movement is percussive and rather angular in nature, while the second movement reflects a hint of jazz and Gershwin-style harmony. Vouchsafe, O Lord (movement VI) is written as a straight-forward motet, while other movements capture yet a different style. In summary, the nature of An American Te Deum is not unlike a musical quilt, constructed with treble voices, a traditional text in English and Latin, American texts in English, various musical styles laced into the middle, and the whole of it framed in a rhythmically and harmonically colorful accompaniment of percussion, piano and two solo strings.

 ZRS

DURATION: 19:00

Instrumental parts available: AMP 5019P $30.00