NSO, NSO, NSO

When the Preface concludes and the congregation prepares for the consecration, the choir leads the people into the Sanctus. Ben Agbo’s "Nso, Nso, Nso" captures that exact moment of awe. It is a setting of the "Holy, Holy, Holy" in Igbo, carrying the reverence required for the heart of the Eucharistic Prayer.

The piece opens with a solemn, repeated declaration of God’s holiness before expanding into the joyful "Hosana n'elu kachasị" (Hosanna in the highest). For a choir, singing this means balancing deep adoration with bright, soaring praise. The harmonies are structured to build up the majesty of "Oseburuwa nk'igwe n'ala" (Lord of heaven and earth), reminding everyone in the pews that the earthly Mass is joining a heavenly chorus.

Worship leaders often look for a Sanctus that is both majestic and accessible to the congregation. Agbo’s arrangement does exactly that, grounding the traditional liturgical text in a resonant musical language that helps the whole church enter into the mystery of the Eucharist.