KYRIE

Gabriel E. Chori’s setting of the Kyrie and Gloria brings a wonderful trilingual approach to the opening rites of the Mass. Dedicated to the choir of St. Raymond Catholic Church in Kafanchan Diocese, this piece weaves English, Latin, and Hausa together into a single, unified prayer.

In the Kyrie, the choir moves smoothly between "Lord have mercy" and "ya Uba kayi mana jinkai," grounding the ancient petition in the local voice of the congregation. The Gloria follows with an energetic, rhythmic drive, alternating phrases like "Daukaka ga Allah" with "gloria in excelsis" and English verses. The composer uses phonetic spellings for some of the Latin text to help singers grasp the pronunciation naturally.

For a choir director looking to engage the congregation with familiar Mass parts in a fresh way, this setting offers a vibrant option. The straightforward solfa notation makes it accessible to learn, while the multilingual verses reflect the true, diverse spirit of Nigerian Catholic worship.