OTITO DIRI CHINEKE

"Otito Diri Chineke" is a vibrant Igbo setting of the Gloria, composed by the renowned Nigerian liturgical musician Jude Nnam. Part of his "Missa Ngozi" (Blessing Mass), this piece uses the updated Igbo translation of the Roman Missal. The Gloria is the great hymn of praise sung during the introductory rites of the Mass on Sundays and solemnities, echoing the song of the angels at Christ's birth.

Nnam's arrangement features a lively rhythmic drive and a four-part harmony typical of Nigerian Catholic choral music. The refrain bursts with joyful acclamations of "Otito diri Chineke n'elu kachalu" (Glory to God in the highest), while the verses thoughtfully navigate the text's shifts from praising the Father to pleading for the mercy of the Son. Choirs will appreciate the dynamic interplay between the voice parts, especially in the energetic call-and-response sections of the refrain.