VENITE

When a choir needs a powerful, majestic call to worship, Psalm 95 is a natural choice. D.M. Okongwu’s 1972 setting of "Venite" brings this ancient invitatory psalm to life in Igbo, capturing the grandeur and reverence of the scriptural text. From the opening bass cantor's call to sing joyfully to Jehovah, the piece invites the entire congregation to lift their voices to the rock of our salvation.

Okongwu structures the anthem beautifully, moving through different vocal textures to reflect the psalm's successive verses. We hear a duet calling us to come with thanksgiving, a trio reflecting on God's creation of the seas and dry land, and a full-hearted plea for the choir to bow down and kneel before the Lord our maker. The music shifts dynamically, matching the awe of recognizing God as the great King above all gods.

This setting is especially fitting for the beginning of a service or a grand entrance, setting a tone of profound adoration. The final variation, warning the flock not to harden their hearts if they hear His voice today, leaves the listener with a lingering sense of spiritual readiness. It is a classic example of early indigenous choral writing that continues to resonate in the choir loft.