EXCEEDING GLAD

When a grand celebration calls for a truly majestic sound, choirs often turn to the classical repertoire. "Exceeding Glad" is a brilliant, triumphant chorus by George Frideric Handel. In our parishes, it finds a natural home during major feast days, ordinations, or special thanksgiving Masses where the liturgy demands an outpouring of joy.

The text is drawn from the Psalms, declaring a profound, radiant joy in God's salvation. Singing this piece is a thrilling workout for any choir. It requires bright, forward energy from the sopranos, solid grounding from the basses, and a tight rhythmic bounce from everyone to keep the overlapping lines crisp. As the voices layer on top of each other, repeating "of thy salvation," the music builds a wall of sound that lifts the entire church.

Handel’s choruses are deeply loved in the Nigerian choral tradition because they carry such a victorious spirit. Mastering the runs and the sudden dynamic shifts—like the final fortissimo marked on the score—takes focused rehearsal, but the result is always a glorious offering of praise that leaves both the singers and the listeners uplifted.