Exsultet - Praeconium Paschale (Score and Parts): SSA Choral Book

Wuorinen takes one of liturgical music's most storied texts and remakes it through canonic elaboration and harmonic richness, creating something that honors its ancient roots while speaking in a distinctly contemporary voice. The obbligato instrumental writing elevates this beyond a simple choral setting, giving it the presence and textural complexity that rewards both performers and listeners. For directors seeking Easter programming that reaches beyond the familiar, this work offers intellectual substance and genuine spiritual weight.

The music unfolds with ceremonial gravity, drawing its power from the gradual layering of voices around fragments of ancient chant. Harmonic movement feels both purposeful and spacious, creating moments of radiance alongside passages of intricate vocal interplay. There's a contemplative quality that emerges even as the text proclaims joy, capturing something of the Easter Vigil's liminal position between darkness and dawn.

Advanced high school and collegiate choirs with strong musicianship and comfort navigating contemporary harmonic language. This work suits ensembles accustomed to liturgical or concert music with intellectual rigor and those seeking to commission-level offerings that demand serious preparation.

• Balance the three vocal lines carefully during the canonic passages; the interweaving phrases need clarity rather than blend, so slight separation of tone quality between sections can actually serve the music.
• Work closely with your instrumentalists from early rehearsals. The obbligato parts are integral to the harmonic fabric and phrasing, not decorative accompaniment.
• Approach the text with deliberate pacing. The Exsultet moves through proclamation and invitation; resist rushing through excitement, allowing each phrase its ceremonial weight.
• Attend to the range demands in each voice part. SSA voicing at this level of sophistication can expose intonation issues if singers aren't fully supported and centered in their parts.

This is an ideal centerpiece for an Easter concert or liturgical observance, particularly when you're programming work that challenges assumptions about what contemporary choral music can be. Pair it with other substantial works that respect the intelligence of your singers and listeners. The 36-page score suggests a concert-length work deserving its own thematic program rather than a single slot among lighter fare.

• Reading and singing canonic voice leading with clarity and independence
• Navigating contemporary harmonic language and chromatic writing
• Sustaining long phrases with attention to text-based pacing and inflection
• Coordinating ensemble singing with obbligato instrumental lines
• Understanding liturgical texts and their role in shaping musical form