THE GREAT ALLELUIA

The Easter Vigil is the high point of the liturgical year, and the singing of the Great Alleluia marks the exact moment the Church transitions from Lenten fasting to the joy of the Resurrection. Masigwe Emmanuel’s setting of "The Great Alleluia" captures this profound shift, designed specifically for the liturgy of Holy Saturday night.

In this arrangement, the Mezzo-soprano and Baritone voices take the lead, proclaiming the verses of Psalm 118—"Give praise to the Lord for He is good" and "The stone that the builders rejected." The full choir answers with the returning, triumphant "Alleluia" refrain, supporting the soloists with warm, sustained harmonies during the verses.

For a choir, this piece requires a balance of solemnity and bright celebration. The steady, deliberate tempo allows the text of the psalm to ring out clearly across the congregation, inviting everyone into the reality that "the Lord's right hand has done mighty deeds." It is a fitting, majestic acclamation to herald the first Gospel of Easter.