SING UNTO GOD

When a choir wants to lift the roof and truly celebrate a grand occasion, few pieces do it quite like this rousing chorus from G.F. Handel's *Judas Maccabaeus*. "Sing unto God" is a magnificent explosion of joy, originally written to celebrate a great victory, and it carries that same triumphant energy into our concert halls and festive celebrations today.

The piece opens with a striking, dignified call from the soloists—first the alto, then the tenor—setting the stage before the full choir bursts in. From there, it is a thrilling workout for every voice part. The sopranos lead the charge with bright, ringing declarations to "high affections raise," while the lower voices answer in rolling, energetic runs. The way Handel sets the words "unmeasur'd praise" is especially fun to sing; the notes spin out in long, joyful melismas that require plenty of breath control and tight ensemble work to keep the momentum driving forward.

For Nigerian choirs, mastering a classical chorus like this in tonic sol-fa is a proud achievement. It takes serious rehearsal to get the timing crisp and the counterpoint clear, especially when the voices are tossing the phrase "to crown this conquest" back and forth. But when it finally comes together, the result is spectacular. It is a piece that demands full voice and full heart, leaving both the singers and the audience energized by its sheer, uncontainable praise.