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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

Breaking! • Official Release of “Stowe Missal Eucharistic Motets” for 3 voices (Kevin Allen)

Corpus Christi Watershed · July 26, 2022

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URING THIS SUMMER’S spectacular church music Symposium, there was a panel discussion. Each faculty member recommended an indispensable piece of choral music for those who direct volunteer choirs. Jeff Ostrowski recommended Kevin Allen’s Matri Divinæ Collection—written for SAB choir—declaring: “These pristine pieces are absolute gold. They have the Solfège markings already written in, they’re fresh and fun, and (especially if your singers have varying degrees of experience) you should start with these at the beginning of every season!”

Stowe Missal Motets: Composer Kevin Allen has just released another collection which is quite similar to Matri Divinæ. That’s because: (1) They’re for three voices (Soprano, Alto, Bass); (2) They have the Solfège already written in; (3) They are modern and fresh; and (4) They include additional psalm-tones to match perfectly the liturgical action happening at the Altar:

*  Amazon • “Stowe Missal Eucharistic Motets” (SAB)
—Sold by Amazon (all proceeds go directly to the composer).

Provenance Of These Texts: It is not known when the famous STOWE MISSAL was created. In the Catholic Encyclopedia, Father Adrian Fortescue dates it around 615AD, but some scholars think it may have been earlier (while others suggest its genesis came later). Around 1200AD, frequent reception of Holy Communion by the faithful became rare, but the STOWE MISSAL contains the texts of various songs to be sung during the distribution of Holy Communion.

Sample Score: Those who wish to do so may download a Stowe Missal Motet Sample Score. To share a video recording with your friends—which helps spread the word about serious Catholic composers such as Mr. Allen—please click here.

Rehearsal Videos: Jeff Ostrowski, in an effort to assist volunteer choirs, has already recorded practice videos for one of these majestic motets (“Commíxtio Córporis”). These free rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #53338.

Completely New: The “Stowe Missal Eucharistic Motets” were commissioned by Corpus Christi Watershed in honor of the USCCB’s declared National Eucharistic Revival, which began on 19 June 2022. They were premiered at Sacred Music Symposium 2022:

Photographs:

Kevin Allen: Kevin Allen has been highly regarded as a composer of opera, chamber, and orchestral music. Mr. Allen has also developed a unique reputation as a composer of church music for the Roman Rite. Mr. Allen’s works—both sacred and secular—have been performed in churches and concert halls throughout the world. Mr. Allen is the founding director of the Collins Consort, the American Composer’s Project, and the Schola Immaculata. He directs music at the Monastery of the Holy Cross in Chicago.

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

Filed Under: Articles, Featured Tagged With: 3-part SAB motets, Composer Kevin Allen, Easy Polyphony For Amateurs, National Eucharistic Revival, Simple Polyphony, Soprano Alto Bass Polyphony, Stowe Missal Eucharistic, Stowe Missal Motets Last Updated: August 12, 2022

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    “Glory To God” • (For Choir + Congregation)
    I wish to thank everyone for the nice comments I received vis-à-vis my Glory To God setting for Choir & Congregation. A gentleman with a musical doctorate from Indiana University wrote: “Love this setting so much. And I will pray, as you asked, for your return to composition more fully. You are very very good.” A female choir director wrote: “I love your harmonizations, your musicality, and the wonderful interplay you have with dissonance and consonance in your music. So fun to listen to, and great for intellect, heart, and soul!” A young woman from California wrote: “Thank you for releasing your new Glory To God in honor of Saint Noel Chabanel. I'm enjoying reading through the various parts and listening to your recordings.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    William Byrd • “Mass for Five Voices”
    Our volunteer choir is learning the “Sanctus” from William Byrd’s Mass for Five Voices. You can hear a short excerpt (recorded last Sunday) but please ignore the sound of babies crying: Mp3 recording. We still have work to do—but we’re on the right track. Once we have some of the tuning issues fixed, I desire to use it as an example proving volunteers can sing complicated polyphony. — One of our volunteer choirs also sang that SANCTUS on 24 September 2023, and you can listen to how that came out.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Baptism” • A Unique Hymn
    Father Christopher Phillips is the founding Pastor of Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church. One of his hymns is unique and (in my humble opinion) quite beautiful. His hymn is basically a prayer to the Holy Trinity but also speaks of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. It would be an ideal Communion hymn on Trinity Sunday or the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. You can hear live recording from last Sunday by clicking here.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

The “jolly good guy” kind of pastor can be an irritant. […] Ministers of the Gospel are not used car salesmen whose heartiness is a mile wide and an inch deep. A bemused layman told me that a bishop joked with him, but turned away like a startled deer when asked an important question…

— Fr. George Rutler (7 August 2017)

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