Exultet (ENG) Matthew Scott, Cantor (with score)
The Cathedral of Christ the Light, Catholic
Oakland, CA
Easter Vigil, 2017
"I wanted to do something different. I've been listening to deacons drone their way through this prayer for 30 years, and I swore if I ever got the chance to sing it myself, I'd blow it out of the water. It's the single most unabashedly joyful prayer of the entire year, and it should sound like it! I wanted to sound like - first of all, that I meant every word, but that I was absolutely on fire with joy. I was nervous as heck going into this Mass - you don't mess with the great prayers, and here I was, with my massive ego, saying 'I'm going to be different,'" in front of Bishop Barber, the Rector, and a lot of priests, seminarians and deacons that are my friends. I wanted it to sound like - you know those street preachers, the ones that are so on fire for Jesus that they sound nuts? Real religious fervor is scary like that. I was fully aware that it might sound to some people like I'd lost it. But that's what this prayer is all about - losing yourself in the majesty of the Resurrection. Fortunately, the reaction was entirely positive. The Rector, Fr. Jay Matthews, was kind enough to tell me afterwards that he'd heard the Exultet his entire life and even sung it himself, but he'd never really connected with it before. Maybe he was just being nice, but I hope it's true - I hope everyone that was there that night felt a new connection to the text. The one criticism I got - and maybe it's not even criticism - is that I sang it really fast. Well... I mean, it's normally 10-12 minutes of listening to a deacon drone on and on, while you stand there in the dark with your melting candle, trying not to burn your hand or catch your hair on fire, waiting for the thing to be over. I didn't want that - I wanted it to be an extra reward to the congregation for showing up, not their punishment! So instead of 10 minutes, I did it in 7, and I'm not sorry. I hope every listener loves this song (and it is a song!) as much as I do, and if you are watching this to learn how to sing it yourself, all I can say is, don't hold back. Be not afraid! Let the prayer itself inspire you, let it sing itself through you so that you can bring its fire and love to everyone listening. God bless you all, and Happy Easter!"
--Matthew Scott, Head Traditional Cantor, Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California
Recording: ZoomH4
Sound Mastering: Audacity 2.0.5
Video: Windows Movie Maker version 2012