Ineffective choral writing 101

As a general rule, a good way not to hear low notes (like the E-flat below the bass clef, for instance) is to make them part of a four-way divisi within a single section. An even better way to way to ensure they are not heard is to have tenors and sopranos singing fortissimo at the top of their range (like a B-flat) against said low notes.

I don't understand what's the point of even bothering at that point. It's a cute effect, but unless you have about a hundred times more basses than sopranos and tenors, it's just not going to work.

[The offending piece: Boulanger's Du fond de l'abîme.]