Views from the Choir Loft

New Release! • “Missa de Beata Virgine” (Kevin Allen)

Jeff Ostrowski · June 9, 2022

EVIN ALLEN has been highly regarded as a composer of opera, chamber and orchestral music. He has also developed a unique reputation as a composer of church music for the Roman Rite. Mr. Allen’s works, sacred and secular, have been performed in churches and concert halls throughout the United States and Europe.

Mass of the Blessed Virgin: Today, one of his most gorgeous Mass settings—Missa de Beata Virgine for SATB Chorus a cappella—has been released on Amazon:

Order your copy today!

* Amazon.com • “Missa de Beata Virgine” (SATB)
—Missa de Beata Virgine; SATB Chorus A Cappella; Kevin Allen.

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Rehearsal Videos • “Kyrie Eleison”

EQUAL VOICES : YouTube
FIRST SOPRANO : YouTube
SECOND SOPRANO : YouTube
ALTO : YouTube
TENOR : YouTube
FIRST BASS : YouTube
SECOND BASS : YouTube

Rehearsal Mp3 Files • “Agnus Dei”

Equal Voices • 1st Sop. • 2nd Sopr. • Alto • Tenor • 1st Bass • 2nd Bass

Weeping While Singing: Here’s a live recording of Dr. Horst Buchholz conducting the “Agnus Dei.” The melodies toward the end are so beautiful, many of the singers began weeping. Crying renders a person unable to sing properly—just like when you’re out of breath—but they couldn’t help themselves:

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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

💲 5.00 💵

Our tiny 501(c)3 nonprofit organization exists solely by generous readers who donate $5.00 per month. We have no endowment; we have no major donors; we run no advertisements; we have no savings. A donor wrote to us: “I so appreciate all you do and have done, and your generosity is unprecedented. I am honored to be able to make a monthly contribution.” Another monthly donor says: “Thank you for everything CC Watershed does. We are able to add so much solemnity to Holy Mass due to the resources made available here.” Can you spare a few dollars each month to help us survive?

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Dom Pothier • Photo from 1904

Dom Paul Cagin, in a 1904 publication (L’oeuvre de Solesmes dans la restauration du chant grégorien) made sure to include a beautiful image of Dom Pothier, the legendary abbot of St-Wandrille. Also shown is a very young Dom André Mocquereau. Auguste Pécoul—considered the spiritual “son” of Abbat Prosper Guéranger of Solesmes—wrote as follows on 24 June 1901: “To forestall any confusion, let us remember that there is just one Gregorian notation—that restored, according to the ancient manuscripts, by the eminent Abbot of Saint-Wandrille, Dom Pothier.” ✠

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “3-Voice Motet” (Father De Laet)

I believe 99% of our readers will recognize this hymn tune. Perhaps Father Edgard De Laet should have called it a ‘hymn’ instead of a ‘motet for three voices’—but he’s technically correct, since MOTET is defined as: “a short piece of sacred choral music, typically polyphonic and unaccompanied.” The even verses are for three voices, as you will see if you download the PDF score at #20245. The odd verses may be song a cappella SATB or unison with organ.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Chart • “Plainsong Rhythm”

I will go to my grave without understanding the lack of curiosity so many people have about the rhythmic modifications made by Dom André Mocquereau. For example, how can someone examine this single sheet comparison chart and at a minimum not be curious about the differences? Dom Mocquereau basically creates a LONG-SHORT LONG-SHORT rhythmic pattern—in spite of enormous and overwhelming manuscript evidence to the contrary. That’s why some scholars referred to his method as “Neo-Mensuralist” or “Neo-Mensuralism.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of January (2026)

On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Simplified)

I admire the harmonization of “Adeste Fideles” by David Willcocks (d. 2015), who served as director of the Royal College of Music (London, England). In 2025, I was challenged to create a simplified arrangement for organists incapable of playing the authentic version at tempo. The result was this simplified keyboard arrangement (PDF download) based on the David Willcocks version of “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Feel free to play through it and let me know what you think.

—Jeff Ostrowski