The Te Deum is a Hymne Chrétien, title shortened of the Latin expression Te Deum laudamus (God, we rent you).

Several versions try to tell the origin of this prière :

• according to Dom Morin, it is holy Nicétas de Remesiana which would have it composée  ;
• an old tradition indicates that it spontaneously was composed and sung by three saints the night of the baptism of Saint Augustin   ; this version, dating from the end of the 8th century, is rejected today by the Masters of the Scolastique   ;
• the Te Deum would for a long time have held an important place in the history of the town of Milan and some think that it was inspired by the writings of Saint Cyprien de Carthage   ;
• in the Roman Breviary, this song is sometimes called anthem ambrosienne by reference to saint Ambroise of Milan.

The anthem Te Deum is used with the Matines in the Western rites, sung the every day of the year in the rite Anglican, while in the Latin Rite it is used only Sundays and certain feastdays.

In addition to its use in the Divine office, the Te Deum is also a Prière of thanksgiving in thanks of a particular favor like the election of a Pape, the dedication of a bishop, the occupation of a monk, the publication of a Peace treaty, a royal Couronnement or the baptism of simple a quidam. Its composition can be simple a Psalmodie, a Gregorian chant or a erudite Polyphonie with several voices, sometimes accompanied by an orchestra and intersected with instrumental interludes.

(to listen to '' Tonus Sollemnis '')

Many type-setters like Lully, Purcell, Graun, Mozart, Berlioz, Liszt, Bruckner, or Jeanne Barbey put in music this prayer. Francesco Antonio Urio (1650-1719) composed a version whose Haendel took again the topics for its Te Deum of Dettinger , its Saül or its Israel in Egypt . But it is the Te Deum of Marc-Antoine Charpentier which remains the most known version with its prelude being used as credits to certain emissions of the European Union of radio-television, Indicatif of the Eurovision.

The text of the anthem

Latin