Hallelujah

Few pieces of choral music carry the sheer, earth-shaking joy of the "Hallelujah" chorus. Taken from Handel's Messiah, this grand anthem is a towering favorite for Nigerian choirs during Easter Sunday, Christmas, and major feast days. When the choir stands to deliver those opening, ringing chords, a wave of reverence and celebration sweeps through the congregation.

The genius of the piece lies in its majestic build-up. We start with bright, unified shouts of praise before the voices begin to weave and chase each other, declaring that "the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth." Singing this in the loft is a thrilling workout—every section gets its moment to shine, passing the melody back and forth until everyone unites for the triumphant "King of Kings, and Lord of Lords." It is a glorious, demanding piece that leaves both the singers and the faithful uplifted.