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Views from the Choir Loft

Polyphony (3 voices) by Morales with Hymn (2 voices) for the Holy Trinity

Jeff Ostrowski · May 28, 2015

716 Most Holy Trinity AVING A CHORAL piece that’s appropriate during any time of the liturgical year is quite a useful thing. The following musical score is for the Most Holy Trinity—and would work well on Trinity Sunday—but need not be limited to that Sunday alone:

    * *  POLYPHONY & HYMN • Holy Trinity

The polyphonic refrain—for 3 voices—is based on a work by Cristóbal de Morales (†1553). The hymn text is from the 13th century, with an English translation by Alan G. McDougall (†1965). The melody for the hymn is called ELY.

Rehearsal videos provided below.

Your organist should download the accompaniment for the verses.

Initially, I was worried about mixing a cappella polyphony with a hymn accompanied by organ. However, this has worked nicely at our parish. I’ve come to enjoy the contrast:

EQUAL VOICES : YouTube   •   Audio Mp3

TOP VOICE : YouTube   •   Audio Mp3

MIDDLE VOICE : YouTube   •   Audio Mp3

LOWEST VOICE : YouTube   •   Audio Mp3

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Polyphony For Three Voices Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Don’t You Agree About These?
    If you want to make Jeff Ostrowski really happy, send him an email with effusive praise about the individual voice recordings for hymn #296. [Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass] They came out dazzlingly sensational, don't you agree?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Choral Vowels? Yes? No?
    Here's a live recording of one of the choral “warm-up” exercises my choir enjoys. It was taken during our rehearsal on 27 January 2023. It’s good to make sure each chord is perfectly in tune and balanced before moving to the next one. That only happens when each singer has the correct vowel. If you like, you can freely download that vocal exercise.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

The Sanctus and Benedictus are one text and should be sung through without a break. The practice—once common—of waiting till after the Consecration and then singing: “Benedictus qui venit…” is not allowed by the Vatican Gradual.

— Father Fortescue, writing in 1912

Recent Posts

  • Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
  • PDF Download • Belgian Book of Gregorian Accompaniments (Official Edition)
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