THE LORD IS RISEN

"The Lord is Risen" is a triumphant Easter anthem that captures the sheer joy of the Resurrection. Composed by Johnpaul Chukwujekwu Okwuo, the piece opens with a bold, declarative chorus that immediately sets a tone of victory. It directly addresses death, asking "where is your strength?" before answering with the ultimate truth of the season: the Lord has conquered. For a choir, this opening serves as a powerful call to worship, perfectly suited for Easter Sunday Mass when the church is bright with white and gold, and the congregation is ready to celebrate the risen Christ.

The arrangement is built on a vibrant call-and-response dynamic, moving from the rich four-part harmony of the opening chorus into more direct, narrative verses. The verses recount the core of the Easter mystery—praising the crucified Christ who rose on the third day in fulfilment of the Scriptures. Between these verses, the choir breaks into a cascading, joyful refrain of "Alleluia," the signature acclamation of the Easter season. This structure makes it an excellent choice for the Offertory or as a lively Recessional hymn, allowing the voices in the loft to lead the faithful in a continuous, uplifting loop of praise.

What makes this piece so effective is its straightforward, uncontainable joy. It doesn't just state that Christ is risen; it invites everyone to actively rejoice in the defeat of death. When the sopranos soar on the repeated Alleluias and the harmony swells underneath, it brings the reality of Easter morning to life. It is a song that leaves both the singers and the congregation feeling uplifted, carrying the triumphant message of the Resurrection out into the world.