KYRIE

"Kyrie" by Alex Ugwu is a gentle, flowing setting of the Penitential Rite. Written entirely in solfa notation, the composer includes a highly unusual and evocative instruction for the choir: to sing "Slowly (like water and rubber)." This vivid direction asks the singers to blend their voices with a smooth, continuous stretch, letting the ancient Greek plea for mercy pour out without harsh edges or sudden breaks.

In the choir loft, this piece finds its natural place during the early moments of the Mass. As the congregation prepares their hearts, the choir moves through the traditional threefold invocation—"Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison." The four-part harmony is kept simple and steady, allowing the gentle rise and fall of the melody to carry the weight of the prayer. It is a humble, reflective setting that draws the faithful into a quiet space of repentance and grace before the Gloria begins.