Te Deum!

Every year in September, a worship service takes place during the ceremonial opening of the Riksdag (Swedish Parliament) at the Stockholm Cathedral. Now you have the opportunity to hear a part of the music that is performed behind closed doors. Both Sven-David Sandström’s and Erland von Koch’s versions of the Christian hymn Te Deum have been commissioned specifically for this worship service. Te Deum is a song of praise to God and gets its name from the Latin opening words of the hymn, “Te Deum laudamus,” which means “You, God, we praise.” Te Deum is typically performed at festive celebrations, or as a part of a mass. Many composers have been inspired to write musical compositions based on Te Deum. These works are often grand, powerful, and contain multiple musical themes that reflect the text’s adoration of God. In this concert, Åke Malmfors’ majestic composition will also be performed. Additionally, we will hear Benjamin Britten’s cantata “Rejoice in the Lamb” from 1943. The text by the 18th-century poet Christopher Smart praises God by describing the wonders of nature and the beauty of animals, especially the author’s own cat, Jeoffry.

Programme:
Sven-David Sandström – Te Deum
Åke Malmfors – Te Deum
Erland von Koch – Te Deum
Caroline Shaw – “and the swallow”
Benjamin Britten – Rejoice in the Lamb, op. 30

The Stockholm Cathedral Singers
Mattias Wager organ
Johan Hammarström conductor

No big bags, trolleys or prams are allowed into the church.