During Benjamin’s time at Merton, the College has established the annual Passiontide at Merton festival, and in 2013 the new Dobson Organ was installed, a project with which he was closely involved. With Merton College Choir, Benjamin has toured in France, Sweden and the USA, given concerts in the Cadogan Hall and The Temple Church, and broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Television.
As a conductor, recent performances have included Holst’s Savitri in the Cheltenham Music Festival, Mozart’s Requiem in St Germain, Paris and Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius with the Oxford Philomusica. Benjamin’s recordings are mainly on the Delphian label, and include discs of Weelkes, Mozart (Coronation Mass and Solemn Vespers), Stainer, Stanford, and Rutter. His debut disc with Merton College Choir was a Gramophone Editor’s Choice.
Benjamin Nicholas has collaborated with numerous composers, and is largely responsible for the Merton Choirbook, commissioned to celebrate the 750th anniversary of the College in 2014. Significant projects have included the first performances of Gabriel Jackson’s Passion in Oxford and New York, and the premieres of new choral works by Birtwistle, Dove, MacMillan, Saxton and Weir.
Te Deum
Benjamin Nicholas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship thee: the Father
everlasting.
To thee all Angels cry aloud: the heavens,
and all the powers therein.
To thee Cherubim and Seraphim: continually
do cry,
of thy glory.
The glorious company of the Apostles: Praise thee.
The goodly fellowship of the Prophets:
praise thee.
The noble army of Martyrs: praise thee. The holy Church throughout all the world:
doth acknowledge thee
The Father: of an infinite Majesty
Thine honourable, true: and only Son Also the Holy Ghost: the Comforter. Thou art the King of Glory: O Christ. Thou art the everlasting Son: of the Father. When thou tookest upon thee to
deliver man: thou didst not abhor
the Virgin's womb.
When thou hadst overcome the sharpness
of death: thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God:
in the glory of the Father.
We believe that thou shalt come:
to be our Judge.
We therefore pray thee, help thy servants:
whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
Make them to be numbered with thy Saints:
in glory everlasting.
O Lord, save thy people: and bless thine
heritage.
Govern them: and lift them up for ever. Day by day: we magnify thee
And we worship thy Name: ever world
without end.
Vouchsafe, O Lord: to keep us this day
without sin.
O Lord, have mercy upon us: have mercy
upon us.
O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us: as our
trust is in thee.
O Lord, in thee have I trusted: let me never
be confounded.
The lyrics of Benjamin Nicholas's song "Te Deum" are a poetic and musical expression of praise and worship to God. The song begins by acknowledging God as the Lord and praising Him for His power and authority over all the earth. It emphasizes the worship of God by all creation, including the angels, the heavens, and all powers in existence. The song further mentions the constant adoration of the cherubim and seraphim, who cry out "Holy, Holy, Holy: Lord God of Sabaoth," emphasizing the divine holiness and majesty of God.
The lyrics continue to express praise from various groups within the church. The glorious company of the apostles, the goodly fellowship of the prophets, and the noble army of martyrs are all mentioned as praising God. The song highlights the universal acknowledgement of God by the holy church throughout the world. It recognizes the Father as an infinitely majestic figure and praises His Son, Jesus Christ, as the honorable, true, and only Son of God, along with the Holy Spirit, who is referred to as the Comforter.
The lyrics also speak about significant events in Christian theology. They mention Jesus' incarnation, where He took on human form by being born of a virgin. It acknowledges His victory over death and His opening of the kingdom of heaven to believers. The song proclaims Jesus' exalted position, sitting at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father. It expresses belief in Jesus' eventual return as the Judge and pleads for His help to the redeemed servants, who have been bought with His precious blood. The lyrics further pray for the faithful's inclusion among the saints in everlasting glory.
The closing lines of the song reflect a daily commitment to magnify and worship God. It asks Him to keep His people without sin, seeking His mercy and blessing upon them. The lyrics express trust and reliance on God, seeking not to be confounded or disappointed. Overall, these lyrics embody a profound reverence for God, acknowledging His sovereignty, grace, and the hope found in Him.
Line by Line Meaning
We praise thee, O God: we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
We express our admiration and adoration to you, O God, and we acknowledge and recognize that you are the Lord, the ruler and authority over all.
All the earth doth worship thee: the Father everlasting.
Every inch of this earth pays homage to you, the eternal Father, through worship and reverence.
To thee all Angels cry aloud: the heavens, and all the powers therein.
All the angels, along with the heavens and everything in them, raise their voices in loud proclamation to you.
To thee Cherubim and Seraphim: continually do cry,
The Cherubim and Seraphim, these heavenly beings of high rank, constantly and fervently shout aloud to you.
Holy, Holy, Holy: Lord God of Sabaoth
They cry out 'Holy, Holy, Holy' because you, Lord God of hosts, are completely pure and separate from any impurity or sin.
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty: of thy glory.
The vast expanse of both heaven and earth is completely saturated with the splendor and magnificence of your glory.
The glorious company of the Apostles: Praise thee.
The glorious assemblage of the Apostles, these esteemed messengers of your truth, offer their praises to you.
The goodly fellowship of the Prophets: praise thee.
The noble and honorable community of the Prophets, who spoke your divine message, also offer their praises to you.
The noble army of Martyrs: praise thee.
The honorable and courageous host of Martyrs, those who sacrificed their lives for their faith in you, also offer their praises to you.
The holy Church throughout all the world: doth acknowledge thee
The holy Church, present throughout the entire world, recognizes and acknowledges you as their King and Savior.
The Father: of an infinite Majesty
You, the Father, possess an immeasurable and boundless majestic nature and presence.
Thine honourable, true: and only Son
Your honorable, authentic, and unique Son
Also the Holy Ghost: the Comforter.
Additionally, the Holy Spirit, who brings comfort and solace.
Thou art the King of Glory: O Christ.
You are the reigning and deserving King of all glory, O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son: of the Father.
You, as the eternal Son, exist in an unending and indissoluble relationship with the Father.
When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man: thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.
When you willingly assumed the task of saving mankind, you did not reject or despise the Virgin Mary's womb as the vessel for your incarnation.
When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death: thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
After you triumphed over the harshness and suffering of death, you opened up the gates of heaven, making it accessible to all who have faith in you.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God: in the glory of the Father.
You are seated in the position of honor, at the right hand of God, radiating the splendor and majesty of the Father.
We believe that thou shalt come: to be our Judge.
We firmly hold the belief that you will return to fulfill your role as our Judge.
We therefore pray thee, help thy servants: whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
Therefore, we beseech you, assist your faithful followers, whom you have redeemed through the sacrifice of your precious blood.
Make them to be numbered with thy Saints: in glory everlasting.
Grant them the privilege of being counted among your holy ones, and share in the everlasting glory that awaits them.
O Lord, save thy people: and bless thine heritage.
Oh Lord, rescue and protect your people, and bestow your blessings upon those who are your inheritance.
Govern them: and lift them up for ever.
Guide and rule over them, and raise them up eternally.
Day by day: we magnify thee
Every day without fail, we exalt and glorify your name.
And we worship thy Name: ever world without end.
We adore and revere your name, forever and throughout the entire world.
Vouchsafe, O Lord: to keep us this day without sin.
Please grant us, O Lord, the favor of keeping us free from sin for this day.
O Lord, have mercy upon us: have mercy upon us.
O Lord, show us mercy and compassion, we implore you.
O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us: as our trust is in thee.
O Lord, shower your mercy upon us, just as we place our trust and reliance in you.
O Lord, in thee have I trusted: let me never be confounded.
O Lord, I have placed my complete trust in you; may I never experience shame or disappointment.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Gerald Finzi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind