The Risen Lord: Easter Cantata

The Risen Lord tells the story of Holy Week and Easter in fifteen numbers, from the palms of Jerusalem to the garden at dawn. Recitatives in the words of the King James Bible lead into choruses of Hosanna and Alleluia, and four new hymns give choir and congregation a voice in the story.

Written in the tradition of the English parish cantata, it is designed for church choirs of every size, with soprano, tenor and bass soloists and organ. It lasts about 25 minutes and can be sung complete or divided across Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Day.

Inside this book:

• The complete full score for choir, soloists and organ

• A program note and detailed performance notes

• Roles for each soloist: the Evangelist, the words of Christ, and Mary Magdalene

• Vocal range charts for every soloist and choir part

• The full text, with Bible references and hymn verses

• Timings for each number and suggestions for use in worship

• A QR code linking to a recording of the cantata

The fifteen numbers: Prelude · Hosanna! lo, the King draws nigh · And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem · Hosanna to the Son of David · And as they were eating · In the quiet upper chamber · My soul is exceeding sorrowful · Crucify Him! · Upon the hill of Calvary · Now upon the first day of the week · He is not here, but is risen · Woman, why weepest thou? · Ring out, ye bells of Easter morn · But now is Christ risen · O death, where is thy sting?

About the composer: Innocent Okechukwu is a Nigerian composer whose music has been performed across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas by ensembles including the JACK Quartet, the Chamber Orchestra of Boston and the Brazilian Symphonic Orchestra. A Ph.D. candidate in composition at the University of Iowa, he won first prize in the 2026 Luna Nova Pipe Organ Composition Contest. His music has been recorded by Navona Records and published by Hal Leonard.