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“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Huge Announcement! • “Three Voiced Polyphony”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 19, 2021

IFTEEN YEARS AGO, on the feast of Father John Brébeuf—19 October 2006—the Secretary of State granted us recognition as a 501(c)3 public charity in Texas. With gratitude to our Redeemer on our fifteenth anniversary, I’m thrilled to make a huge announcement. A magnificent collection we commissioned for three-part choirs (Soprano, Alto, Bass) can now be purchased directly from Amazon, and we have greatly reduced the price. Depending on how the psalm verses are sung—a decision left to each choirmaster—these pieces can be as long or short as necessary to match the liturgical action. If your choir has more females than males, this collection will thrill you—because all the pieces are written for SAB!

*  MATRI DIVINAE GRATIAE • Purchase this book!
$8.99 per copy • Eligible for Amazon Prime! • 44 pages.

Click here to download a sample page.

Contemporary Harmonies: Composer Kevin Allen has produced a true masterpiece, make no mistake about it. Some of these pieces are somber and stately. An example would be “Aufer A Me,” and observe how each voice enters on a different scale degree—a superb touch! One way to find out whether a composition is excellent is to take away one or more voices and examine the result. Mr. Allen’s creation certainly passes that test with flying colors, as you can see by listening to a version missing one voice (i.e. with one voice removed). The result is both interesting and pleasing. This is contemporary music, so the “RRR” (Rigid Renaissance Rules) are not followed…yet each voice is eminently singable—an absolute joy!

Rehearsal videos for each individual voice:
“Aufer A Me” • SOPRANO • ALTO • BASS

Small Groups: Some of the pieces are extremely bright—and the following example demonstrates that—and they are very “tuneful” or “catchy.” Once these pieces get into your head, they won’t leave! And that’s okay, because the sacred liturgy is supposed to be something in which we take delight. They sound very good sung by even a handful of singers. Below is a live recording from our 9:00am Sunday Mass—which is sung by a very small group of singers:

Large Groups: On the other hand, these piece sound absolutely spectacular when they are sung by a large group of singers. By the way, in terms of the layout (which includes solfège markings), few books compare in elegance to Matri Divinae Gratiae. Below is live recording from our 11:00am Sunday Mass—which is sung by a large group of volunteer singers:

Rehearsal videos for each individual voice:
“Quam Dilecta” • SOPRANO • ALTO • BASS

This 44-page collection contains:

1. QUAM DILECTA |+ Psalm verses
2. JUSTORUM ANIMAE |+ Psalm verses
3. ERIPE ME |+ Psalm verses
4. SI AMBULAVERO |+ Psalm verses
5. MEMENTO VERBI |+ Psalm verses
6. AUFER A ME + Psalm verses

Supporting The Composer: This collection was commissioned by CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED and published in September of 2016. In accordance with our customs, all proceeds which exceed production costs (printing, shipping, and so forth) go directly to the Catholic artist, who maintains copyright. Therefore, when you purchase these books, you are directly supporting Roman Catholic artists who produce works for the Church. We are a 100% volunteer organization.

Complete Title:   Matri Divinae Gratiae, Opus Mariae Dedicatum

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

Filed Under: Articles, Featured Tagged With: 3-part SAB motets, Easy Polyphony For Amateurs, Matri Divinae Gratiae, Motets for Three-Part Choir, Polyphony For Three Voices Last Updated: October 25, 2021

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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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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Hymn by Cardinal Newman
    During the season of Septuagesima, we will be using this hymn by Cardinal Newman, which employs both Latin and English. (Readers probably know that Cardinal Newman was one of the world's experts when it comes to Lingua Latina.) The final verse contains a beautiful soprano descant. Father Louis Bouyer—famous theologian, close friend of Pope Paul VI, and architect of post-conciliar reforms—wrote thus vis-à-vis the elimination of Septuagesima: “I prefer to say nothing, or very little, about the new calendar, the handiwork of a trio of maniacs who suppressed (with no good reason) Septuagesima and the Octave of Pentecost and who scattered three quarters of the Saints higgledy-piddledy, all based on notions of their own devising!”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
    “Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3). I'm not a fan of chant in octaves, but we had such limited time to rehearse, it seemed the best choice. After all, everyone should have an opportunity to learn “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium,” which summarizes Candlemas.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

When the matter is thus regarded, an assertion which is being made today, not only by laymen but also at times by certain theologians and priests and spread about by them, ought to be rejected as an erroneous opinion: namely, that the offering of one Mass, at which a hundred priests assist with religious devotion, is the same as a hundred Masses celebrated by a hundred priests. That is not true.

— Pope Pius XII (2 November 1954)

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Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.