“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

Job Opening • $65,000 per year +

A parish 15 minutes away from me is looking for a choir director and organist. The parish is filled with young families. When I began my career, I would have jumped at such an opportunity! Saint Patrick’s in Grand Haven has a job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year including benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” I lived in Kansas for 15 years, Texas for 10 years, and Los Angeles for 10 years. Michigan is the closest place I know to heaven!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of November (2025)

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

“Offertory” at Catholic Funerals

I have argued that the OFFERTORY—at least in its ancient form—is more of a responsory than an antiphon. The 1962 Missal specifically calls it “Antiphona ad Offertorium.” From now on, I plan to use this beautiful setting (PDF) at funerals, since it cleverly inserts themes from the absolution of the body. Tons more research needs to be done on the OFFERTORY, which often is a ‘patchwork’ stitching together various beginnings and endings of biblical verses. For instance, if you examine the ancient verses for Dómine, vivífica me (30th Sunday in Ordinary Time) you’ll discover this being done in a most perplexing way. Rebecca Maloy published a very expensive book on the OFFERTORY, but it was a disappointment. Indeed, I can’t think of a single valuable insight contained in her book. What a missed opportunity!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Our Father” • Musical Setting?

Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?

—Jeff Ostrowski

New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”

My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.

—Jeff Ostrowski