Amara

"Amara" is a gentle, solemn setting of the Grace, composed by Laz Ekwueme in 1974. It takes the familiar words of the Apostolic blessing—wishing the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit upon the congregation—and wraps them in a sustained, reverent choral texture. The music moves with a quiet dignity, asking the singers to blend their voices in a unified, heartfelt prayer.

In the life of a choir, this piece serves as a perfect closing prayer. We often use it at the end of Mass as a dismissal hymn, or even to close our own choir rehearsals before heading home. The slow, Lento sostenuto tempo gives the choir space to breathe together, creating a moment of stillness and peace before the final, resolving "Amen." It sends the congregation out into the world with a tangible sense of divine comfort.

Because the score provides the text in both Igbo and English, it adapts easily to different parish needs. Singing these words in harmony brings a deep sense of community to the loft. It is a classic Nigerian choral blessing that leaves a quiet, lingering calm in the church long after the final notes fade.