Last year, I had my first experience scaling the Everest of liturgical chant, the Exultet. (I blogged about that, and my first Triduum, here, and that account was recently reprinted in Deacon Digest.) I know a few guys who now find themselves in the same position I was in last year: staring at the calendar, counting the days until the Easter Vigil and wondering how they are going to master that seven minute a capella monster when, for some of us, even “Happy Birthday” can be daunting. Looking for any kind of help, I found myself searching in vain for any decent recording of the Exultet, until I finally stumbled upon this website.

Well, rejoice, heavenly powers: Fr. Tim Hepburn’s rendition is superb.

I downloaded it onto my iPod around Christmastime and began listening to it. And listening. And listening. And listening. Hours on end. (For those of us who are musically challenged, it’s the only way.) I know other guys who got their music directors to tape it for them, and they sing it in the car on the way to work. I also got into the habit of singing it around the apartment. (Which may be why our neighbor downstairs started cranking up his stereo in the evenings.)

One thing you should know: there are a lot of different Exultets out there. If you take the time to leaf through various hymnals and missals, you’ll find different variations, in different keys, with slightly varying melodies. Some are abridged. I suspect most of the people in the pews won’t know the difference. (Also, if you really want to be brave, try and tackle it in Latin. That takes a certain testicular magnitude that, frankly, I lack.)

Anyway: good luck and God speed.

Meantime…join me in asking God for mercy, that He may give His unworthy minister grace to sing His Easter praises…