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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

In Memoriam • Dr. William Mahrt

Fr. David Friel · January 2, 2025

T THE VERY START of this Jubilee year, we mourn the passing of Dr. William Mahrt, who died late in the afternoon of January 1, 2025. One of the world’s foremost authorities on Gregorian chant, Dr. Mahrt was a tremendous teacher whose depth of scholarship was matched by his greatness of soul. Dr. Mahrt’s writings in musicology, especially within the realm of Gregorian chant, are truly magisterial. Readers of the CMAA’s Sacred Music journal will remember Bill’s insightful and pithy editorials in each issue, almost always bearing a one- or two-word title. His reviews of repertoire in the same journal show forth his unparalleled mastery of chant and polyphony. The 2012 reworking of a number of earlier articles into the book The Musical Shape of the Liturgy was a great gift for a new generation of men and women who are dedicated, like Bill, to promoting the Church’s treasury of sacred music at the parish level.

This is one of the most remarkable things about Bill’s professional life: although he was ever the scholar, he was never removed from the demands of actual liturgical praxis. He led a successful career as a professor at Stanford University (his alma mater), and he also led the St. Ann Choir week-by-week in rehearsal and at Sunday Mass in Palo Alto continuously for more than fifty years. Bill was no ivory tower academic, but a brilliant and faithful man who had tasted heaven in the chants of the Church and who ardently shared his knowledge and love for sacred music with his fellow parishioners and musicians.

Numerous times, I heard Dr. Mahrt give lectures and presentations on sacred music, always learning something from what he taught. Occasionally, while participating together in various conferences, I had the chance to share a meal with him, which always felt like sitting at the feet of a (very humble) master. On a few occasions, I also had the imposing task of presenting papers on musical topics in his presence, during the course of which I cited one or more of his works. I will never forget his kindness and encouragement to me on those occasions.

Dr. Mahrt’s death is a real loss for his family and for so many others who came to love him for his gentleness and generosity, as well as his erudition and accomplishments.

AINT PAUL describes the way in which the Holy Spirit manifests Himself in human souls: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). According to this standard, Bill was a man very much filled with the Holy Spirit.

We pray that Dr. Mahrt may soon sing alongside the angels and saints as part of the heavenly choir. Requiescat in pace!

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Church Music Association of America CMAA, New Liturgical Movement Blog, William Mahrt Gregorian Chant Last Updated: January 2, 2025

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and serves as Director of Liturgy at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    A Nice Hymn In Spanish
    In my humble opinion, this is a really beautiful hymn in Spanish. If I practice diligently, I’ll be able to pronounce all the words properly. If you’re someone who’s interested in obtaining a melody only version (suitable for your congregational ORDER OF WORSHIP) you can steal that from this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 21st in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Our choir returns on Sunday, 24 August 2025. Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for it, which is the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the spectacular feasts website. When it comes to the feast of the Assumption (15 August 2025), I have uploaded the music list for that Mass—but not the “bi-lingual” Mass in the evening (Spanish, Latin, and English) which has completely different music.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Entrance Chant” • 21st Sunday Ordin. Time
    You can download the ENTRANCE ANTIPHON in English for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) which is coming up on 24 August 2025. Corresponding to the vocalist score is this free organ accompaniment. It’s set in a melancholy mode, but if you heard my choir’s female voices singing it your soul would be uplifted beyond belief. If you’re someone who enjoys rehearsal videos, this morning I tried to sing it while simultaneously accompanying my voice on the pipe organ.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    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

Random Quote

“Indeed, we may not hope for real Latin poetry any more, because Latin is now a dead language to all of us. However well a man may read, write, or even speak Latin now, it is always a foreign language to him, acquired artificially. It is no one’s mother tongue. Does a man ever write real poetry in an acquired language?”

— Rev’d Adrian Fortescue (d. 1923)

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