Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704), Maitre de Musique at the great Jesuit church of St. Paul in Rue St. Antoine in Paris, wrote his mighty and majestic Te Deum to commemorate the French victory at the Battle of Steinkerque on August 1692. Scored for eight soloists plus chorus and accompanied by woodwinds and strings, plus trumpets and drums because of their military associations, Charpentier's Te Deum was conceived and executed as a grand and glorious hymn to the Lord, praising Him for their victory. Charpentier's Te Deum was hailed as a patriotic masterpiece at its premiere, then was quickly and completely forgotten as the war of the Grand Alliance ground on to its inconclusive conclusion five years later. Charpentier's Te Deum remained completely forgotten until its triumphal Prélude, scored for festive trumpets and celebratory drums, was revived as the theme song for the Eurovision television network 260 years later.

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