Kevin Allen • “What is Sacred Music?”

Jeff Ostrowski · May 31, 2022

A frequent reader (J. F. M.) has made us aware of the following video clip which features composer Kevin Allen. It’s from Mass of the Ages, Vol. 2 produced by Cameron O’Hearn.¹

Some of Mr. Allen’s compositions are sold here.

NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1 Full disclosure: I have not seen the full video. To be completely candid, my vocation as a husband and father doesn’t leave much time for YouTube videos. [The Foyle’s War series in an exception.]

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

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).

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

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About Jeff Ostrowski