LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Henry Purcell: Te Deum
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The end of the anthem continues to accentuate the relationship between soloists and chorus through the manner in which Purcell sets the text. The group of soloists sing "let all the people say, Amen." Unlike previous verses in which the chorus echoes an entire phrase sung by the soloists, in this final section the chorus only sings "Amen" in response. They are, therefore, marked as representative of "all the people." This passage is repeated. Then the soloists sing only "Amen," repeated by the chorus a final time. Textually, Purcell indicates that the soloists are part of the group of "all people," for they too respond "Amen." Yet they are separated from the group of the chorus, who, representing all people, only respond "Amen."
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The manuscript first came to light in November 1993 and provides the only example to survive of keyboard music written in Purcell's own hand. The Purcell section contains 21 pieces written on 22 pages; five of the pieces were entirely unknown; four others, arrangements for keyboard of his theatre music, were ... not known before in this form; the remainder are known movements from his keyboard suites but even here the text often varies considerably from that given in their first publication (A choice collection of lessons for the harpsichord or spinnet published by his widow in 1696).
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Of the beauty of Purcell's "Tempest" music it is not necessary to speak. "Come unto these yellow sands" and "Full fathoms five" are songs as easily and as readily admired now as two hundred years ago.
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Te Deum