Figure 1.--St. Paul's Choir in London is one of the early cathedral choirs (1127), predating the modern Chedral by centuries. The choristers in these early choirs sanf in Plainsong also known as Gregorian Chant.

Europe slowly slow recovery from the Dark Ages as social structures began to reform and trade increased (10th century AD). Modern states began to emerge. The emperor and popes vied for control of temporal and church institutions. Urban centers began to grow and often centered on cathedrals. Urban cathedrals begn to become important centers of education gradually replaing the monasteries. And this meant that boys were no longer with sung liturgy in remote rural molnastaries, but in great urban catedrls, expsing their music to the growing urban populations. One example of this shift was when Bishop Wolfgang separated his diocese from the Abbey of St. Emmeran Abbey and moved the Abbey choir to his cathedral in the center of the city (957). This was the creation of the Regensburger Domspatzen (“Cathedral Sparrows”), as they boys are now called. They claim to be the oldest continuing boy choir in the world. This was just beginning, several other important cathedral choirs were fonded over the next several centuries to sing in the magnificent Gothic Cathedrals that began to rise throughout Western Europe. The first choir school founded at old St. Paul’s Cathedral in London (1127). A choir was established at St. Thomas’ Church in Leipzig--Thomanerchor (1212). A boarding school for choristers was set up at the Kreuzkirche (Church of the Holy Cross) in Dresden (before 1300). The Choir coninues today as the Dresdner Kreuzchor. These schools were among very few schools available to boys at the time. The two basic services in both monasteries and cathedrals in which boys participatd with theirmusic were the Eucharist and the Divine Office. The music sung by the boy christers throughout the medival era was plainsong, popularly referred to as Gregorian Chant, named after Pope Gregory I, one of the most important Roman Catholic popes. Monophonic chant dominated Church music for over a thousand years when polyphony apperd (12th century). Early composers were Léonin and Pérotin (12th century).

Middle Ages

The medieval era is generally defined as the period of European history from the fall of Rome (5th century) to the Renaissance (15th century). The Medieval era is often given only limited attentioin in histories of the West. In fact, the Medieval era by far is the longest period of European history--spanning a millenia. The impact on the Western mind and our modern society was enormous. Modern scholarship is increasingly focusing on the so-called Dark Ages which, as a result, has received an historical reappraisal. Many authors object to the term as misleading. Other scholars increasingly see in the so called Dark Ages the foundation for many of the basic beliefs and social institutions of the West. While the era is generally treated as a single era, this millennium long era was extremely diverse. The pace of social change begn to quicken in the 12h century. The Christian Church which dominated the Medieval era was, after the fall of Rome, the major force for cultural unty of the West. One notable trend was the endurance of fashion. Before the mass marketing of our modern age, fashions endured for decades if not centuries. Changes in fashion were glacial compared to the coming and going of modern fashions. Europe slowly slow recovery from the Dark Ages as social structures began to reform and trade increased (10th century AD). Modern states began to emerge. The emperor and popes vied for control of temporal and church institutions.

Cathedral Cities

Urban centers began to grow and often centered on cathedrals. Urban cathedrals begn to become important centers of education gradually replaing the monasteries. Gradually universities grew out og cathedral schools, all controlled by the Church.

Sung Liturgies

Boy choirs and song schools during the Dark Ages for some 500 years were phenomenon occurring at rural monastaries. The rise of cathedral cities And this meant that boys were no longer with sung liturgy in remote rural monastaries, but in great urban catedrals, exposing their music to the growing urban populations.

Cathedral Choirs

We begin the see cathedral choirs and cathedral song schools appearing. One example of this shift was when Bishop Wolfgang separated his diocese from the Abbey of St. Emmeran Abbey and moved the Abbey choir to his cathedral in the center of Leipzig (957). This was the creation of the Regensburger Domspatzen (“Cathedral Sparrows”), as they boys are now called. They claim to be the oldest continuing boy choir in the world. The Salisbury Cathedral School was founded by Saint Osmund for the education of choristers at the Old Sarum Cathedral (1091). The school is thus one of the oldest oprating educational institution in the world. This was just beginning, several other important cathedral choirs were fonded over the next several centuries to sing in the magnificent Gothic Cathedrals that began to rise throughout Western Europe. The first choir school founded at old St. Paul’s Cathedral in London (1127). A choir was established at St. Thomas’ Church in Leipzig--Thomanerchor (1212). A boarding school for choristers was set up at the Kreuzkirche (Church of the Holy Cross) in Dresden (before 1300). The Choir coninues today as the Dresdner Kreuzchor. All major cathedreals of the era as well as many churches included choristers. These schools were among very few schools available to boys at the time. Choir fashions appear to have followed the fashion trends of clergy. With the introduction of the surplice (white, sleeved, blouse-like shirt with lace trim worn over a cassock) worn over a cassock (plain black, long-sleeved, ankle-length tunic) as the official clergy garment, choirs also adopted this style. Thus the uniformity and a formalization of what is now a 'choir look' developed.

Services

The two basic services in both monasteries and cathedrals in which boys participatd with theirmusic were the Eucharist and the Divine Office. The Eucharist is essentially a ritual re-enactment of Jesus’ Last Supper and celebrated by concvrating the bread and wine at the altar. The words that make up the Ordinary of the Mass are the basis of numerous musical settings, but are really peripheral to this main celebration of the Mass. Sining the Ordinary creted a recurring musical thread for the liturgy which is soothing and conforting. The Divine Office evolved mostly out of the monastic tradition. It consists primarily of the Psalms with added Biblical canticles. Here the Magnificat and Benedictus from Luke’s Gospel are by far the most important. St. Benedict required his monks to chant all 150 psalms at least once every week.

Choral Music

As Church music evolved from the communal singing of the early church to choral singing, the orincipal form became plainsong, commonly known as Gregorian chant, named after Pope Gregory I (590-603), better known as Gregory the Great and one of the most important Roman Catholic popes. Of course, Gregory did not compose the chants himself. But Gregory played an important role in promoting the monastic tradition. And he promoted the Church's collection and collation of liturgical materials and the music was an important part of that. The austere, monophonic Gregorian chant was followed by polyphony which was being developed at about the same time as notation. During the Middle Ages all cathedral and churches of any consequence possessed trained boy choristers. At the end of the Middle Ages choir schools were flourishing throughout Europe. Polyphony as not immeduarely adopted for boys' voices. A milenium of monophony was not easuly ir quickly over come. When it was, some of the most magnificent creations in Western music were composed. Soons the great cathedrals of Europe were filled with the dolcent voices of boy choristers. The huge numbers of choral compsitions that appeared is a momument to the inspiration of the boy voice.

Created: 10:23 PM 11/21/2012
Last updated: 12:07 AM 1/4/2013