EXULTET

The Exsultet, or Easter Proclamation, is one of the most profound and ancient texts of the Church, sung at the very beginning of the Easter Vigil. As the congregation stands in the glow of the newly lit Paschal Candle, this chant breaks the solemn darkness to announce the Resurrection of Christ. It is a moment of pure awe in the choir loft and the pews alike, calling on the angels, the earth, and Mother Church to rejoice because the gloom of sin has been banished.

This particular arrangement pairs the traditional English chant of the proclamation with a vibrant, polyphonic "Amin!" composed by Solomon Stephen Fakarau. The chant itself flows naturally, carrying the cantor and the people through the story of salvation—from the Passover in Egypt to the melting wax of the candle. It requires a steady, prayerful delivery that allows the rich theology of the "happy fault" of Adam to shine through clearly.

After the long, beautiful recitative concludes with the promise of Christ the Morning Star, the piece erupts into a joyful, rhythmic choral "Amin." This final section shifts the mood from quiet reverence to celebratory praise, giving the full choir a chance to lift their voices together. It is a fitting, triumphant seal on the proclamation that Christ is truly risen.