A boys' choir is a choir primarily made up of choirboys who have yet to begin puberty or are in the early to middle stages of puberty and so retain their more highly pitched childhood voice type.[1] Members of a boys' choir are technically known as trebles and often termed boy sopranos," although occasionally some boys sing in the alto range. Some boys' choirs of churches or cathedrals are further supported by older male voices singing tenor and bass; these singers are sometimes former choirboys. The world's oldest active boys' choir is the Regensburger Domspatzen at Regensburg and was founded in 975.[2]
The Wilten Boys' Choir, one of the oldest boys' choirs in Europe. Six boys from this choir were used to found the Vienna Boys' Choir by Maximilian I.
Boys' choirs, as a Western World cultural tradition, developed in the Middle Ages. Boys were then responsible for contributing a treble sound to church music, since women were typically barred from the performance of sacred music in a public (gender mixed) context. Some of the oldest existing boys' choirs—such as the Vienna Boys' Choir—trace their roots back to this time.
In 1498, more than half a millennium ago, Emperor Maximilian I moved his court and his court musicians from Innsbruck to Vienna. He gave specific instructions that there were to be six boys among his musicians. For want of a foundation charter, historians have settled on 1498 as the official foundation date of the Vienna Hofmusikkapelle and—in consequence—the Vienna Boys' Choir. Until 1918, the choir sang exclusively for the court, at mass, at private concerts and functions and on state occasions.[3]
Today, church traditions with strong roots in the Middle Ages (in particular, Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox and Lutheran churches) continue to host many boys' choirs. The Anglican church is particularly well known for its contributions to choral works and arrangements for boys' voices. However, the general inclusion of female voices in church music since the mid-1800s has significantly reduced the importance of boys' choirs as church institutions. Many present boys' choirs were either founded or reconstituted during the first half of the 20th century as independent concert choirs. In 1917 an article in The Musical Quarterly identified - and criticized - a trend toward the foundation of many boys' choirs in the USA, which the author derided as the "boy choir fad."[4]
Palm Sunday Concert Program, Apollo Boys' Choir, The Shamrock Hotel, Houston, Texas (April 10, 1949)
Contemporary developments
The age of onset of puberty has declined to the early teens, so boys' choirs can no longer expect to retain a majority of their singers through the age of 16 or 17—as was the case when Bach wrote complex cantatas for the male treble. Boys' voices now break, on average, by the age of 13.5,[5] leading to higher choir turnover rates and limiting the complexity of a choir's musical repertoire. In addition to these challenges, there have been instances of sexual misconduct in some choirs and choir schools.[6]
Boys' choirs offer young males an active point of entrance into music and vocal training. They can also help to foster discipline, high standards and cultural awareness, as well as providing strong peer groups oriented around boys who identify themselves with a choir's cultural and ethical values.[7] A greater awareness of the value of gender-specific youth work may also support the positive contributions of boys choirs.
Many choirs also provide choir alumni with extensive opportunities—often coupled with continued vocal coaching—to support their vocal transition to altos, tenors and basses and to stimulate their continued artistic development.
Notes and references
^Moller, Herbert (1985). "Voice Change in Human Biological Development". Journal of Interdisciplinary History. The MIT Press. 16 (2): 239–253. doi:10.2307/204176. JSTOR 204176. PMID 11617364.
^. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
^Norden, N. Lindsay (1917). "The Boy Choir Fad". The Musical Quarterly. Oxford University Press. 3 (2): 189–197. doi:10.1093/mq/iii.2.189. JSTOR 738084.
^"Disorders of Puberty". AAFP. Retrieved 2009-03-02.
^cf. The Choir Academy of Harlem, displaying outstanding student achievement
Koopman, Ton (1996). "Recording Bach's Early Cantatas". Early Music. 24 (4): 605–621. doi:10.1093/earlyj/XXIV.4.605. JSTOR 3128058.
January 19, 2023
boys, choir, 2014, film, boychoir, film, boys, choir, choir, primarily, made, choirboys, have, begin, puberty, early, middle, stages, puberty, retain, their, more, highly, pitched, childhood, voice, type, members, boys, choir, technically, known, trebles, ofte. For the 2014 film see Boychoir film A boys choir is a choir primarily made up of choirboys who have yet to begin puberty or are in the early to middle stages of puberty and so retain their more highly pitched childhood voice type 1 Members of a boys choir are technically known as trebles and often termed boy sopranos although occasionally some boys sing in the alto range Some boys choirs of churches or cathedrals are further supported by older male voices singing tenor and bass these singers are sometimes former choirboys The world s oldest active boys choir is the Regensburger Domspatzen at Regensburg and was founded in 975 2 Contents 1 Middle Ages and early development 2 20th century 3 Contemporary developments 4 Notes and referencesMiddle Ages and early development Edit The Wilten Boys Choir one of the oldest boys choirs in Europe Six boys from this choir were used to found the Vienna Boys Choir by Maximilian I Boys choirs as a Western World cultural tradition developed in the Middle Ages Boys were then responsible for contributing a treble sound to church music since women were typically barred from the performance of sacred music in a public gender mixed context Some of the oldest existing boys choirs such as the Vienna Boys Choir trace their roots back to this time In 1498 more than half a millennium ago Emperor Maximilian I moved his court and his court musicians from Innsbruck to Vienna He gave specific instructions that there were to be six boys among his musicians For want of a foundation charter historians have settled on 1498 as the official foundation date of the Vienna Hofmusikkapelle and in consequence the Vienna Boys Choir Until 1918 the choir sang exclusively for the court at mass at private concerts and functions and on state occasions 3 20th century Edit Cantores Minores performing in the Helsinki Cathedral in 2013 Today church traditions with strong roots in the Middle Ages in particular Anglican Catholic Orthodox and Lutheran churches continue to host many boys choirs The Anglican church is particularly well known for its contributions to choral works and arrangements for boys voices However the general inclusion of female voices in church music since the mid 1800s has significantly reduced the importance of boys choirs as church institutions Many present boys choirs were either founded or reconstituted during the first half of the 20th century as independent concert choirs In 1917 an article in The Musical Quarterly identified and criticized a trend toward the foundation of many boys choirs in the USA which the author derided as the boy choir fad 4 Palm Sunday Concert Program Apollo Boys Choir The Shamrock Hotel Houston Texas April 10 1949 Contemporary developments EditThe age of onset of puberty has declined to the early teens so boys choirs can no longer expect to retain a majority of their singers through the age of 16 or 17 as was the case when Bach wrote complex cantatas for the male treble Boys voices now break on average by the age of 13 5 5 leading to higher choir turnover rates and limiting the complexity of a choir s musical repertoire In addition to these challenges there have been instances of sexual misconduct in some choirs and choir schools 6 Boys choirs offer young males an active point of entrance into music and vocal training They can also help to foster discipline high standards and cultural awareness as well as providing strong peer groups oriented around boys who identify themselves with a choir s cultural and ethical values 7 A greater awareness of the value of gender specific youth work may also support the positive contributions of boys choirs Many choirs also provide choir alumni with extensive opportunities often coupled with continued vocal coaching to support their vocal transition to altos tenors and basses and to stimulate their continued artistic development Notes and references Edit Moller Herbert 1985 Voice Change in Human Biological Development Journal of Interdisciplinary History The MIT Press 16 2 239 253 doi 10 2307 204176 JSTOR 204176 PMID 11617364 Chor The Vienna Boys Choir Archived from the original on 2011 09 27 Retrieved 2008 05 02 Norden N Lindsay 1917 The Boy Choir Fad The Musical Quarterly Oxford University Press 3 2 189 197 doi 10 1093 mq iii 2 189 JSTOR 738084 Disorders of Puberty AAFP Retrieved 2009 03 02 Sex Abuse Scandal Haunts Harlem Boys Choir ABC news 2006 03 29 Retrieved 2009 03 01 cf The Choir Academy of Harlem displaying outstanding student achievement Koopman Ton 1996 Recording Bach s Early Cantatas Early Music 24 4 605 621 doi 10 1093 earlyj XXIV 4 605 JSTOR 3128058 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Boys 27 choir amp oldid 1113922803, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
