Antiphon and acclamations for the procession of the elect at the Great Vigil of Easter, 1998

Antiphon and acclamations for the process of the elect at the Great Vigil of Easter

This piece was written for the choir of Saint James Cathedral (Seattle), Dr. James Savage, Director of Music. In the most complete final manuscripts, there are two versions included. The first page contains the first version, which is written for cantor and congregation (a cappella). Pages 2-6 contain the "alternative version," which is written for cantor, congregation, and SATB choir (also a cappella). Proulx wrote this piece in 1995 and revised it in 1998. In addition to the final manuscripts, there are multiple copies of each of the two different versions, one includes his original sketches. The following, written by Proulx on the bottom of the last page of the manuscript, describes what this composition is about: "These acclamations are designed to accompany the elect during the procession to the font at the Easter Vigil. The antiphon (No. 1) and the acclamations may be sung during the procession, with the antiphon repeated when all are in place at the font. Or the acclamations only may be sung during the procession. Single acclamations (Nos. 2-5) may be sung following each baptism, intoned by the cantor. The antiphon (No. 1) may be repeated after the final baptism or during the returning procession."