Views from the Choir Loft

Easy 3 part motet for the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Veronica Brandt · June 1, 2015

OMETIMES YOU READ ABOUT easy 3 part motets, only to find the complexity of the timing and intervals involved makes them out of reach. They may be fairly short and only 3 parts, but still challenging.

This piece was shared on the music sacra forum way back in 2008 and has since travelled the world and become a favourite among many choirs. It is short and sweet and there is symmetry which makes learning easier.

The lyrics: “Ametur ubique terrarum Cor Jesu Sacratissimum in aeternum!”

Which is: “May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved, forever!” – the motto of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.

* * PDF Score Ametur, 3 part polyphony by Fr Tom Luby MSC.

I am hoping to introduce it to two groups this year, so here I share the practice recordings I have made. Please forgive the singing. It should be clear enough to learn from.

Top part predominant – Audio MP3
Middle part predominant – Audio MP3
Lowest part predominant – Audio MP3

I don’t have a good equal voices recording yet, but hopefully there will be one soon!

NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

The photo here is a beautiful example of goldwork, or Goudborduurwerk by H. van Severen, Sint-Niklaas circa.1900. “S CORDIS IESU SEVEREN-ENTE“ by Carolus – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

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

About Veronica Brandt

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. She lives near Sydney, Australia, with her husband and six children.—(Read full biography).

“Music List” • 19th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (10 August 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

This Sunday’s Communion Antiphon

This coming Sunday—10 August 2025—is the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). The COMMUNION ANTIPHON is really gorgeous, and two of its features are worth mentioning. First of all, the Gospel reading assigned is from Saint Luke, whereas the the antiphon—although it matches the account—comes from Saint Matthew. (If anyone can point to a similar example, please notify me.) Furthermore, if you look at the authentic Gregorian Chant version posted on the feasts website, you’ll notice that it’s MODE III but ends on the ‘wrong’ note. A comparable instance of such a ‘transposed’ chant would be KYRIE IV.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Using “Ye” Vs. “You” Correctly

Using “Ye” vs. “You” is rather tricky, because it depends upon which era one is trying to recreate—if that makes any sense. In other words, the rules haven’t always been the same for these two. Nevertheless, Father Philip George Caraman (the legendary Jesuit scholar) gives us a masterclass using Saint Luke’s Gospel. Father Caraman was close friends with Monsignor Ronald Knox, Evelyn Waugh, and Sir Alec Guinness.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Pius XII Hymnal?

Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Hybrid” Chant Notation?

Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Antiphons Don’t Match?

A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).

—Corpus Christi Watershed