Views from the Choir Loft

motets

Keven Smith · March 24, 2023

Hidden Gem: Ave Regina Caelorum (Steven Talley)

This sweet, simple SATB motet provides a contrast to heavier, darker Lenten repertoire. But it’s going out of season soon.

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Keven Smith · January 19, 2023

Hidden Gem: Adoro Te Devote (Carlotta Ferrari)

Find out why this motet is simple enough for beginning choirs yet demanding enough to challenge seasoned singers.

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Keven Smith · October 20, 2022

Hidden Gem: Dormi Jesu (Luc Jakobs)

This striking Christmas motet puts Latin text atop jazzy harmonies to lull Our Infant Lord to sleep.

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Keven Smith · August 24, 2021

Hidden Gem: Salve Regina (Barkoskie)

Salve Regina is still in season for another three months. You have plenty of time to learn this simple yet satisfying piece.

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Keven Smith · April 28, 2021

Hidden Gem: In Te, Domine, Speravi (Hassler)

This simple canon makes a great “anytime” Offertory motet for developing choirs and experienced ensembles alike.

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Keven Smith · January 18, 2021

Hidden Gem: Salvum Fac Populum Tuum (Bruckner)

This little-known, accessible motet could serve as your choir’s introduction to the thrilling sonic world of Anton Bruckner.

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Keven Smith · December 21, 2020

Hidden Gem: Alma Redemptoris Mater (Salazar)

Here’s a Spanish Baroque motet that will gradually, gently win your heart while giving your choir another good option for the entire Christmas cycle.

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15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Music Director Job • $80,000 per year

Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published

Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Pius XII Hymnal?

Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Hybrid” Chant Notation?

Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Antiphons Don’t Match?

A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).

—Corpus Christi Watershed