REGINA CAELI

"Regina Caeli" is the Church's great Marian antiphon for the Easter season, a joyful shout that replaces the Angelus from Easter Sunday until Pentecost. In this arrangement, the familiar Latin text is given a bright, rhythmic life. The opening refrain bursts with the gladness of the Resurrection, inviting the choir and congregation to rejoice with the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The verses unfold with a gentle but steady momentum, carrying the ancient words—Quia quem meruisti portare and Resurrexit sicut dixit. The vocal parts weave together naturally, building up to the final, triumphant "Alleluia." It is a wonderful piece for Communion or as a recessional hymn during the Easter season, lifting the spirit of the liturgy and giving the choir a chance to sing with real Easter gladness.

Interestingly, the composer's note at the end of the score roots this joyful music in a very specific moment in Nigerian life. It was written on a quiet Saturday in February 2019, composed at home in Abuja during the movement restriction order for the postponed Presidential Election. It is a lovely reminder of how sacred music often flows from the quiet, unexpected pauses in our daily routines.