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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

Kevin Allen’s “Dómine Convértere” Sung At Saint Peter’s Basilica (Vatican City)

Jeff Ostrowski · April 13, 2022

REATEST. Usually, it’s unwise to use the word “greatest.” If I call someone the greatest violinist in the world, I make a fool of myself. If I call someone the greatest preacher in the world, I come across as dimwitted. Nevertheless, I believe Kevin Allen to be the greatest living composer of Catholic choral music. I would struggle mightily as a choir director without his oeuvre. Choirs just love to sing his music!

Saint Peter’s Basilica: The music of Kevin Allen was recently featured in Vatican City. Specifically, Mr. Allen’s Dómine Convértere was sung during a “penitential liturgy” with Pope Francis at Saint Peter’s Basilica (25 March 2022). This piece comes from a collection called “Cantiones Sacrae Simplices,” which was commissioned by Corpus Christi Watershed. You can learn more at EMPORIUM KEVIN ALLEN.

Fabulous Opportunity: You can meet this marvelous composer if you attend Sacred Music Symposium 2022. That’s because Kevin Allen is a presenter this year. Here’s a live recording of my parish choir—which is made up completely of volunteer singers—singing Kevin Allen’s Si ambulávero at Mass:

An Essential Collection: That piece—Si ambulávero—is from a collection of pieces called “Matri Divinae Gratiae.” Every choirmaster should obtain this collection as quickly as possible. I could not live without this collection; my choristers just love it. Learn more at EMPORIUM KEVIN ALLEN.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Cantiones Sacrae Simplices, Composer Kevin Allen, Matri Divinae Gratiae, Si Ambulavero Last Updated: May 3, 2022

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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

“Like all other liturgical functions, like offices and ranks in the Church, indeed like everything else in the world, the religious service that we call the Mass existed long before it had a special technical name.”

— ‘Rev. Adrian Fortescue (THE MASS, page 397)’

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