“Cantiones Sacrae Simplices” (Kevin Allen)

“Cantiones Sacrae Simplices” (Kevin Allen)

ANTIONES SACRAE SIMPLICES is an 80-page collection of simple SATB Motets by composer Kevin Allen, with (optional) psalm verses in Latin and English. The texts are appropriate throughout the entire Liturgical year. Feel free to download a PDF file with the entire collection, listen to an audio sample, or read the beautiful foreword by Dr. William Peter Mahrt of Stanford. Please share this special promotional video with your friends!

* Purchase this book! • CANTIONES SACRAE SIMPLICES
—Eligible for “Amazon Prime” • All proceeds (100%) go directly to the composer.

Practice Videos :

1. Dóminus Dabit Benignitátem: • Balanced Voices Practice Video

Soprano Predominant • Soprano Muted • Soprano Part Left Channel

Alto Predominant • Alto Muted • Alto Part Left Channel

Tenor Predominant • Tenor Muted • Tenor Part Left Channel

Bass Predominant • Bass Muted • Bass Part Left Channel

2. Meditábor in Mandátis Tuis: • Balanced Voices Practice Video

Soprano Predominant   •   Soprano Muted   •   Soprano Part Left Channel

Alto Predominant   •   Alto Muted   •   Alto Part Left Channel

Tenor Predominant   •   Tenor Muted   •   Tenor Part Left Channel

Bass Predominant   •   Bass Muted   •   Bass Part Left Channel

3. Justítiae Dómini Rectae: • Balanced Voices Practice Video

Soprano Predominant   •   Soprano Muted   •   Soprano Part Left Channel

Alto Predominant   •   Alto Muted   •   Alto Part Left Channel

Tenor Predominant   •   Tenor Muted   •   Tenor Part Left Channel

Bass Predominant   •   Bass Muted   •   Bass Part Left Channel

4. Bonum Est Confitéri: • Balanced Voices Practice Video

Soprano Predominant   •   Soprano Muted   •   Soprano Part Left Channel

Alto Predominant   •   Alto Muted   •   Alto Part Left Channel

Tenor Predominant   •   Tenor Muted   •   Tenor Part Left Channel

Bass Predominant   •   Bass Muted   •   Bass Part Left Channel

5. Dómine Convértere: • Balanced Voices Practice Video

Soprano Predominant   •   Soprano Muted   •   Soprano Part Left Channel

Alto Predominant   •   Alto Muted   •   Alto Part Left Channel

Tenor Predominant   •   Tenor Muted   •   Tenor Part Left Channel

Bass Predominant   •   Bass Muted   •   Bass Part Left Channel

Sung at the Vatican by the Sistine Chapel choir:

6. Ego Clamávi: • Balanced Voices Practice Video

Soprano Predominant   •   Soprano Muted   •   Soprano Part Left Channel

Alto Predominant   •   Alto Muted   •   Alto Part Left Channel

Tenor Predominant   •   Tenor Muted   •   Tenor Part Left Channel

Bass Predominant   •   Bass Muted   •   Bass Part Left Channel

7. Illúmina Fáciem Tuam: • Balanced Voices Practice Video

Soprano Predominant   •   Soprano Muted   •   Soprano Part Left Channel

Alto Predominant   •   Alto Muted   •   Alto Part Left Channel

Tenor Predominant   •   Tenor Muted   •   Tenor Part Left Channel

Bass Predominant   •   Bass Muted   •   Bass Part Left Channel

8. Unam Pétii A Dómino: • Balanced Voices Practice Video

Soprano Predominant   •   Soprano Muted   •   Soprano Part Left Channel

Alto Predominant   •   Alto Muted   •   Alto Part Left Channel

Tenor Predominant   •   Tenor Muted   •   Tenor Part Left Channel

Bass Predominant   •   Bass Muted   •   Bass Part Left Channel

9. Circuíbo Et Immolábo: • Balanced Voices Practice Video

Soprano Predominant   •   Soprano Muted   •   Soprano Part Left Channel

Alto Predominant   •   Alto Muted   •   Alto Part Left Channel

Tenor Predominant   •   Tenor Muted   •   Tenor Part Left Channel

Bass Predominant   •   Bass Muted   •   Bass Part Left Channel

10. Panem de Caelo: • Balanced Voices Practice Video

Alto Predominant   •   Alto Muted   •   Alto Part Left Channel

Soprano Predominant   •   Soprano Muted   •   Soprano Part Left Channel

Tenor Predominant   •   Tenor Muted   •   Tenor Part Left Channel

Bass Predominant   •   Bass Muted   •   Bass Part Left Channel

11. Panis Quem Ego Dédero: • Balanced Voices Practice Video

Soprano Predominant   •   Soprano Muted   •   Soprano Part Left Channel

Alto Predominant   •   Alto Muted   •   Alto Part Left Channel

Tenor Predominant   •   Tenor Muted   •   Tenor Part Left Channel

Bass Predominant   •   Bass Muted   •   Bass Part Left Channel

12. Dómine Memorábor: • Balanced Voices Practice Video

Soprano Predominant   •   Soprano Muted   •   Soprano Part Left Channel

Alto Predominant   •   Alto Muted   •   Alto Part Left Channel

Tenor Predominant   •   Tenor Muted   •   Tenor Part Left Channel

Bass Predominant   •   Bass Muted   •   Bass Part Left Channel

Buckfast Abbey Weighs In

Dom John Stéphan was a Benedictine monk of Buckfast Abbey in South Devon, England. On 4 February 1933, he published this interesting letter in THE TABLET. Have you seen the exterior of Buckfast Abbey? It’s beyond gorgeous. I doubt there’s a more arresting Abbey in the entire world. Dom Stéphan’s letter is concerning this momentous collection, which our organization obtained, scanned, and uploaded.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Responsorial Psalm Fauxbourdon?

When it comes to singing Responsorial Psalms in Fauxbourdon, what does this sound like in practice? Can such a thing be done successfully with volunteer choirs in real Catholic parishes? Listen to this audio excerpt from Good Friday and see what you think. Our parish volunteer choir did so well this year—and the ceremonies were ‘standing room only’. For the record, that musical score can be downloaded (completely free of charge) from the flourishing feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Music List • (Easter Sunday, 2026)

Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Easter Sunday—a.k.a. “Ad Missam in die Paschae”—which is 5 April 2026. Please feel free to download it as a PDF file if such a thing interests you. The Fauxbourdon for Communion is particularly moving.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Liturgical Law” (467 Pages)

On Good Friday during the middle ages, the pope privately recited THE ENTIRE PSALTER. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself by reading this passage by Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen (d. 1943). His famous book—called “Liturgical Law: A Handbook Of The Roman Liturgy”—was published by the Benjamin Herder Book Company, which was the American arm (operating out of St. Louis, Missouri) of one of the world’s most significant Catholic publishers. Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen was born in Switzerland but spent his career between the Benedictine monasteries at Conception (Missouri) and Mount Angel (Oregon). His 1931 masterpiece, Liturgical Law can be downloaded as a PDF file … 467 pages!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026

How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)

I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.

—Jeff Ostrowski