Psalm 3 (Easter tridum) I WILL SING TO THE LORD

"I Will Sing to the Lord" captures the explosive joy of the Easter Vigil. Labeled on the score as "Psalm 3" for the Easter Triduum, this responsorial piece sets the triumphant text of the Exodus canticle, which is sung as the third response of the Vigil after the reading of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. In the choir loft on Holy Saturday, after the solemnity of Good Friday and the long readings in the dark, this is the moment the liturgy breaks open with pure celebration.

Ekwem Lilian’s arrangement is built entirely around the infectious energy of its text. The choir declares the opening lines in bold harmony before launching into the syncopated, driving repetitions of the refrain. The score is designed for a cantor to chant the verses while the choir and congregation hold down the joyful, layered response of "He has triumphed."

For Nigerian Catholic choirs, pieces like this are the backbone of the Easter Vigil. The rhythmic drive of the solfa arrangement makes it easy for the congregation to catch the melody and join in. It is a song of victory, perfectly suited for the night the Church celebrates Christ’s triumph over death.