“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

(Part 2) • Did they simplify this hymn?

Choirs love to sing the resplendent tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1929, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. Their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1929 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. As always, the Germans added an organ INTRODUCTION. For the record, I posted a different harmonization a few months ago which was downloaded more than 2,000 times.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Lectionary Comparison Chart”

Various shell corporations (in an effort to make money selling Sacred Scripture) have tinkered with the LECTIONARY texts in a way that’s shameful. It’s no wonder Catholics in the pews know so few Bible passages by heart. Without authorization, these shell corporations pervert the official texts. Consider the Responsorial Psalm for the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year A). If you download this PDF comparison chart you’ll notice each country randomly omits certain sections. Such tinkering has gone on for 60+ years—and it’s reprehensible.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Monsignor Klaus Gamber Speaks!

An interesting quotation from the eminent liturgist, Monsignor Klaus Gamber (d. 1989): “According to canon law, a person’s affiliation with a particular liturgical rite is determined by that person’s rite of baptism. Given that the liturgical reforms of Pope Paul VI created a de facto new rite, one could assert that those among the faithful who were baptized according to the traditional Roman rite have the right to continue following that rite; just as priests who were ordained according to the traditional Ordo have the right to exercise the very rite that they were ordained to celebrate.”

—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

“American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)

The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams

Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.

—Jeff Ostrowski