Figure 1.--Here a choir waits for its participation in a Catholic mass. We are not sure where this choir was from, but it may be a French choir.

Music came to play an important part in Christian religious services. We are not entirely sure about the historical process in which this developed. It does not appear to have Jewish roots. We are less sure about the musical tradition in the various religions wiyth which Christianity competed within the Roman Empire. Boy choirs are noted at an early stage in the development of the christian Church, at least by the 5th century. The Church has in turn played a role in the development of music. Just as much of medieval art focvused on religious themes so did music focus on religious themes. The Church during the Dark ages was one of the few European institutions with the wealth to support both art and music. While music is important in most Christian faiths, the use of music has varied widely among the different denominations. Many boy choirs are associated with the Catholic Church. The Anglican Church in England is especially noted for its magnificent cathedral choirs. Protestant churches have also sponsored boy chours. Christianity is the religion with the strongest musical tradition. Many other religions seem to largely ignore music. Our informastion is limited here, but we know of no Islamic or Budhist musical tradition. Hopefully our readers can provide some insights here.

Historical Process

Music came to play an important part in Christian religious services. We are not entirely sure about the historical process in which this developed. It does not appear to have Jewish roots. We are less sure about the musical tradition in the various religions wiyth which Christianity competed within the Roman Empire. Boy choirs are noted at an early stage in the development of the christian Church, at least by the 5th century.

Development of Western Music

The Church has in turn played a role in the development of Western music. Just as much of medieval art focvused on religious themes so did music focus on religious themes. The Church during the Dark ages was one of the few European institutions with the wealth to support both art and music.

Christian Denominations

While music is important in most Christian faiths, the use of music has varied widely among the different denominations. Many boy choirs are associated with the Catholic Church. The Anglican Church in England is especially noted for its magnificent cathedral choirs. Protestant churches have also sponsored boy chours. Christianity is the religion with the strongest musical tradition. A reader writes, "Certain Christian movements have taken a severe attitude toward music. Right after the Reformation organ music was banned and although most Reformed congregations today do use their organ, some very orthodox denominations in the Netherlands will sing semibreve natural notes only as half or quarter notes and sharps or flats are considered frivolous." Music has an important place in the Catholic Church. A French reader tells us, "Not long ago it wasn't permit for the women to sing inside a chuch. It was the reason why only men and boys sang in Catholic choirs. Today we continue to consider that to sing a chant it is to pray twice. Myself I know well the Ordinary Chants of the mass, I began to learn them when I was 8-9 years old ( about 1952 ) in this time I was just altar boy and get a good experiance because I stayed till past 15 years of age. By the time I was 10 years old I was able to read the Gregorian music and know a quite number chuch chants. The texts are not always easy to memorize for a child. When I was a boy, altar boys were still raught the Latin chant. Many altar boys were also members of a boy choir. The best trebbles could becam soloist for the interpretation the Aria. A boy soprano loses his voice about 14 years old; sometime his voice breaks and becoms mezzo, alto . For many boys it is a difficult period. I still remember when my voice broke. Pope ious XII in 1951 created the International Pueri Cantores with the French priest l'abbé Maillet as the managment. At this time practicly all the Catholic boy choirs copied the costume worn by the French choir: open collar white shirt, blue sweater, blue short pants, white kneesocks, and black shoes. White albs were worn during chuch performances. A lot of Chuch music is written for the boy trebble. By instance all the Aria le Messie of Händel are written for multiple voice tonality, including the boy trebble, alto and bass voices. The first basic chants we had to learn in the 1950s were: Kyrie ( Gregorian version ), Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, Alleluia ( several versions ), Credo, Benedictus, Pater noster, Ave Maria, and Ave Verum Corpus ( the two versions ).

Boy Choir Music

The European boy choir was created to provide musical accompaniment to church services. Following scriptual references that women should remain silent in church, only boys were allowed to sing in the early choirs. HBC has at this time only limited information on church music, but hopes to obtain needed information. Choral music is music written in parts, usually for four different voices and performed by a chorus or choir. The coral service is the musical service celebrated by a full complement of clergymen, lay clerks, and choristers, and sung or intoned in the rubrics. The European boy choral tradition originated in the church and for a milenium was purely an eclesiartical function. Secular boy choirs have appeared in 20th century and now consitute a substantial number of choirs. Even cathedral choirs in turn have added a variety of secular music for their performaces outside of religious services.

Other Religions

Many other religions seem to largely ignore music. Our informastion is limited here, but we know of no Islamic or Budhist musical tradition. Hopefully our readers can provide some insights here. One reader writes, "It may be true that Muhammedanism tends to disfavour religious music."

Created: 2:30 AM 12/24/2004
Last updated: 9:59 PM 12/30/2004