As From The Power Of Sacred Lays

"As From The Power Of Sacred Lays" is the magnificent final chorus from George Frideric Handel's Ode for St. Cecilia's Day. Setting the vivid poetry of John Dryden, the piece explores the eternal power of music—from the very dawn of creation when "the spheres began to move," all the way to the end of time when "the trumpet shall be heard on high."

For Nigerian choirs, tackling this classical piece is a thrilling challenge often reserved for major concerts, choral competitions, or feast day celebrations honoring St. Cecilia, the patroness of musicians. The piece opens with a majestic soprano solo before exploding into a brilliant, complex chorus. The vocal parts weave and chase each other through demanding fugal passages, especially as they sing of the dead living and the living dying.

Singing Handel requires immense stamina and precision, and mastering this chorus is a proud milestone for any choir. When the voices finally unite to declare that "Music shall untune the sky," it leaves both the singers and the audience in absolute awe of the majesty of classical choral music.