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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

“Matri Divinæ Gratiæ” • 3-voice Motets (SAB)

Cynthia Ostrowski · September 14, 2016

EVIN ALLEN’S magnificent collection for three voices—Soprano, Alto, Bass—can now be purchased directly from Amazon, and we have greatly reduced the price. Depending on how the psalm verses are sung (which is a decision left to each choirmaster) these pieces can be as long or short as necessary to match the liturgical action. If your choir has more females than males, this collection will thrill you—because all the pieces are written for SAB!

*  MATRI DIVINAE GRATIAE • Purchase this book!
$8.99 per copy • Eligible for Amazon Prime! • 44 pages.

Click here to download a sample page.

Contemporary Harmonies: Composer Kevin Allen has produced a true masterpiece, make no mistake about it. Some of these pieces are somber and stately. An example would be “Aufer A Me,” and observe how each voice enters on a different scale degree—a superb touch! One way to find out whether a composition is excellent is to take away one or more voices and examine the result. Mr. Allen’s creation certainly passes that test with flying colors, as you can see by listening to a version missing one voice (i.e. with one voice removed). The result is both interesting and pleasing. This is contemporary music, so the “RRR” (Rigid Renaissance Rules) are not followed…yet each voice is eminently singable—an absolute joy!

Rehearsal videos for each individual voice:
“Aufer A Me” • SOPRANO • ALTO • BASS

Small Groups: Some of the pieces are extremely bright—and the following example demonstrates that—and they are very “tuneful” or “catchy.” Once these pieces get into your head, they won’t leave! And that’s okay, because the sacred liturgy is supposed to be something in which we take delight. They sound very good sung by even a handful of singers. Below is a live recording from our 9:00am Sunday Mass—which is sung by a very small group of singers:

Large Groups: On the other hand, these piece sound absolutely spectacular when they are sung by a large group of singers. By the way, in terms of the layout (which includes solfège markings), few books compare in elegance to Matri Divinae Gratiae. Below is live recording from our 11:00am Sunday Mass—which is sung by a large group of volunteer singers:

Rehearsal videos for each individual voice:
“Quam Dilecta” • SOPRANO • ALTO • BASS

Here’s the direct URL link.

Here’s the direct URL link.

Si Ambulavero: The following rehearsal videos (for each individual voice) were created by Jeff Ostrowski to help volunteer choirs master these pieces:

Rehearsal videos for each individual voice:
“Si Ambulavero” • SOPRANO • ALTO • BASS

And here’s a live recording by a volunteer choir:

Here’s the direct URL link.

Justorum Animae: The following rehearsal videos (for each individual voice) were created by Jeff Ostrowski to help volunteer choirs master these pieces:

EQUAL VOICES : YouTube
SOPRANO : YouTube
ALTO : YouTube
BASS : YouTube

*  Mp3 Excerpt • “JUSTORUM ANIMAE”
—This comes from “Matri Divinæ Gratiæ,” a collection by composer Kevin Allen.

*  Mp3 Download • “Justórum ánimae” (Live Rec.)
—This comes from “Matri Divinæ Gratiæ,” a collection by composer Kevin Allen.

Memento Verbi:

EQUAL VOICES : YouTube
SOPRANO : YouTube
ALTO : YouTube
BASS : YouTube

This 44-page collection contains:

1. QUAM DILECTA |+ Psalm verses
2. JUSTORUM ANIMAE |+ Psalm verses
3. ERIPE ME |+ Psalm verses
4. SI AMBULAVERO |+ Psalm verses
5. MEMENTO VERBI |+ Psalm verses
6. AUFER A ME + Psalm verses

Supporting The Composer: This collection was commissioned by CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED and published in September of 2016. In accordance with our customs, all proceeds which exceed production costs (printing, shipping, and so forth) go directly to the Catholic artist, who maintains copyright. Therefore, when you purchase these books, you are directly supporting Roman Catholic artists who produce works for the Church. We are a 100% volunteer organization.

Complete Title:   Matri Divinae Gratiae, Opus Mariae Dedicatum

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: 3-Voice Music, Matri Divinae Gratiae, Music for Three Parts, Polyphony For Three Voices, Soprano Alto Bass Choral Last Updated: November 3, 2025

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About Cynthia Ostrowski

Cynthia Ostrowski holds a bachelor's degree (2005) in Geographic Information Science and a minor in Computer Science from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi.—(Read full biography).

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President’s Corner

    Music List • (5th Sunday of Lent)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 5th Sunday of Lent (22 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. Traditionally, this Sunday was called ‘Passion’ Sunday. Starting in 1956, certain church leaders attempted rename both ‘Passion’ Sunday and ‘Palm’ Sunday—but it didn’t work. For example, Monsignor Frederick McManus tried to get people to call PALM SUNDAY “Second Passion Sunday”—but the faithful rejected that. I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (Holy Thursday, 2026)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Holy Thursday, which is 2 April 2026. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a more piercingly beautiful INTROIT, and I have come to absolutely love the SATB version of ‘Ubi cáritas’ we are singing (joined by our burgeoning children’s choir). I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “O Escam Viatorum” • (Holy Thursday)
    When I was very young, I erroneously believed the four psalms provided by the 1957 Liber Usualis—for Communion on Holy Thursday—were the “correct” music to sing on that first day of the TRIDUUM SACRUM. Those four psalms are: Psalm 22 (Dóminus regit me et nihil mihi déerit); Psalm 71 (Deus judícium tuum regi da); Psalm 103 (Bénedic ánima méa); and Psalm 150 (Laudáte Dóminum in sanctis ejus). It turns out I was way out in left field! While nothing forbids singing those psalms, many other options are equally valid. Our volunteer parish choir will sing this COMMUNION PIECE (joined by our burgeoning children’s choir) on Holy Thursday during Holy Communion. Needless to say, this will happen after the proper antiphon from the GRADUALE ROMANUM has been sung.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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
    Stumped by “Episcopalian Hymnal” (1910)
    Some consider Songs of Syon (1910) the greatest Episcopalian hymnal ever printed. As a Roman Catholic, I have no right to weigh in one way or the other. However, this particular page has me stumped. I just know I’ve heard that tune somewhere! If you can help, please email me. I’m talking about the text which begins: “This is the day the Lord hath made; In unbeclouded light array’d.” The book is by George Ratcliffe Woodward, and its complete title is: Songs of Syon: A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. Back in 2016, Corpus Christi Watershed scanned and uploaded this insanely rare book. For years our website was the sole place one could download it as a PDF file.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”
    For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

If they protest and want, for example, to retain at least the familiar chants of the ordinary Mass in Latin, they are told that their protest is worthless. They are not “trained.” There is no reason to take account of what they say!

— Father Louis Bouyer (1968)

Recent Posts

  • PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)
  • Summer 2026 • “Gregorian Chant Course” at Aquinas College (Nashville, TN)
  • Music List • (5th Sunday of Lent)
  • Music List • (Holy Thursday, 2026)
  • “O Escam Viatorum” • (Holy Thursday)

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