Figure 1.--The establishment of the La Manécanterie des Petits Chanteurs ŕ la Croix de Bois in 1907 was the beginning of the modern boy choir movement in Frannce. |
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The boy choir tradition was not revived in Franceuntil the 20th century. The first activity
HBC has noted occured during the summer of 1906, two young students, on holiday at the Abbey of Tamie, in Savoy, form a project which seemed at the time to be a dream: to form a
group of children which would go from church in church in various cities to carry the living testimony living of the authentic sacred music. This dream was actually realized in 1907. The result was La Manécanterie des Petits Chanteurs ŕ la Croix de Bois. Their activity helped reintroduce boy choir music to France, especially after World War I (1914-18) in the 1920s and 30s. This single choir had a profound impact on the French boy choir movement. The moveement was interupted by World War II (1939-45) and the German occupation. After the War, however, several boys choirs were inroduced throughout France. Most of the choirs were Catholic choirs, founded by private French colleges (schools). The uniforms thus became the uniforms worn by the boys at the schools. The revival of the boy choir movement has been very successful in France. There appear to be more boy choirs in France today then in any other European country--at least on the continent as there are also large numbers of English choirs. Almost all the French choirs are associated with churches or French Catholic schools. The French appear to take a very conservative approch to church music. Unlike the situation in English cathedrals, HBC knows of no French girl choirs that have been formed. Neither does HBC know of any secular choirs, however, our information is very limited. Many choirs were organized in France during te 20th century, most after world War II. Not many choirs lasted very long, especially boy choirs.
The boy choir tradition was not revived in France until the 20th century. Pope Pius X made a significant effort to return boys to their traditional place as singers, as part of his sweeping liturgical and musical reforms in the Catholic Church (1903). Many countries took up this challenge and proceeded to re-found boys' choirs as part of their reform of church music. But it is in France that we primarily see real developments.
The first activity
HBC has noted occured during the summer of 1906, two young students, on holiday at the Abbey of Tamie, in Savoy, form a project which seemed at the time to be a dream: to form a
group of children which would go from church in church in various cities to carry the living testimony living of the authentic sacred music. This dream was actually realized (1907). Paul Berthier founded a group called Les Petits Chanteurs a la Croix de Bois (1907), who, under their subsequent director L'Abbe Maillet, toured the towns and villages as a sort of missionary group for this type of liturgical singing involving boys. Their symbol was a wooden cross on a white alb, their liturgical dress. Other groups in Europe soon followed their example. They enspired the creation of quite a number of French Catholic choirs, but only a few based on residential choir schools.
The activity of La Manécanterie des Petits Chanteurs ŕ la Croix de Bois helped reintroduce boy choir music to France, especially after World War I (1914-18) in the 1920s and 30s. This single choir had a profound impact on the French boy choir movement.
The French boy choir movement moveement was interupted by World War II (1939-45) and the German occupation. One Choir was caught overseas. Another visitedc the French POWs in German camps. After the War, however, several boys choirs were inroduced throughout France. Most of the choirs were Catholic choirs, founded by private French colleges (schools). The uniforms thus became the uniforms worn by the boys at the schools. he boy choir movement gained momentum after World War II. This was especially the case in France. The Petits Chanteurs de Versailles were founded (1946) and today have a wonderful tradition of performing French baroque music.
We begin to see the founding of a large number of boy choirs throughout France, nore Catholic boy choirs than all rhe rest of Europe. The work of the Les Petits Chanteurs a la Croix de Bois and their concerts throughout Framnce had laid the ground work for the explosive development of French choirs.
Many choirs were organized in France during te 20th century, most after world War II. Not many choirs lasted very long, especially boy choirs.
The revival of the boy choir movement has been very successful in France. There appear to be more boy choirs in France today then in any other European country--at least on the continent as there are also large numbers of English choirs. Almost all the French choirs are associated with churches or French Catholic schools. The French appear to take a very conservative approch to church music. Unlike the situation in English cathedrals, HBC knows of no French girl choirs that have been formed. Neither does HBC know of any secular choirs, however, our information is very limited.
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