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Views from the Choir Loft

SATB “Alleluia” (Fr. Morales) • for both OF and EF

Jeff Ostrowski · November 13, 2017

UCH OF THE SACRED MUSIC SYMPOSIUM each year is spent discussing how choirmasters can survive in what is undoubtedly a very difficult profession. In the booklet each participant receives, we provide tons of scores with simple polyphony a volunteer choir can manage—and we meticulously describe ways of “sneaking polyphony into the Mass.” One of my favorite ways is to employ choral extensions. This can be done in the EF by mixing the psalm tones given on the René Goupil website with a polyphonic Alleluia like the one below. 1

Please pardon my screechy soprano voice, but I wanted to show how it sounds:

    * *  PDF Download • «ALLELUIA» by Cristóbal de Morales (d. 1553AD)

REHEARSAL VIDEOS for each individual voice await you at #3982.

This Alleluia can also be used in the Ordinary Form—as explained. You could write your own Alleluia or grab one from a billion different plainsong sources. (Archbishop Bugnini’s Consilium had tried to eliminate from the Ordinary Form all foreign words—Amen, Alleluia, Hosanna, and so forth—but the Sacred Congregation of Rites was able to prevent that. So the OF still contains a few foreign words.) The Graduale Simplex (pdf) has some nice ones:

3962 ALLELUIA

A brief word about polyphonic Alleluia #3982: Francisco Guerrero (d. 1599) studied under Fr. Morales, and we often see his traits. For example, Guerrero loved to add variety to his works. The first section might begin with Sopranos, then Altos, then Bass, then Tenors. The next section might be revered: starting with Bass, then Tenors, then Altos, then finally Sopranos. Or he may begin each point of imitation with a different voice.

Fr. Morales often does the same thing in Alleluia #3982—and it’s truly marvelous.

Consider the .WAV files from my Rehearsal video:

3964 ProTools


The sheet music illustrates this even better.

(But the .WAV files are kind of cool.)



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Other examples include #7503 and #3524 and #4470 and #5050.

This Alleluia comes from a Mass by Fr. Morales (Benedicta es Caelorum Regina) based on a motet by Fr. Jean Mouton (d. 1522), who was also a Catholic priest.

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

Filed Under: Articles 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

    PDF • “For General Use Until Advent”
    If you conduct a volunteer choir, you might consider using this Simple Piece #40273 (“Adésto Sáncta Trínitas”) which can be used during the rest of the liturgical season until Advent. It's based on the well known hymn tune: OLD HUNDREDTH. Rehearsal videos are available at #40691. A live recording of #40273 (“Adésto Sáncta Trínitas”) by a volunteer choir is here (#40065).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • (This Coming Sunday)
    Our volunteer choir appreciates training videos, so here's my attempt at recording “Exáudi Dómine Vocem Meam,” which is the INTROIT for this coming Sunday. This coming Sunday is Dominica Post Ascensionem (“Sunday after the feast of the Ascension”). It is sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Volunteer Choir Attempts “Kýrie Eléison”
    My volunteer choir attempted the polyphonic KYRIE that will be sung at this year's Sacred Music Symposium. If you're interested, you can listen to the live recording from last Sunday. The piece is based on the ancient plainchant hymn melody: Ave Maris Stella. Polyphony like this is truly intricate and wonderful. It reminds me of the quote by Artur Schnabel: “music that's greater than it can be performed.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

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— Most Rev. Bishop Strickland (15 December)

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