Figure 1.--This photograph shows the costume worn by the Douai choir for secular programs. It is the only French choir HBC knows of that has a green uniform.

The choir has two costumes. They wear white albs with wooden crosses for religious performances. They have a different costume for secular performances, quite a destinctive uniform. HBC has not noted any Frech choir wearing a costume quite like this. Green is a color not commonly worn by French choirs which more commonly use blue. The costume consists of white open necked shirts worn without ties, green "V"-neck sweaters with a crest, dark green short pants, white knee socks, and black shoes. The sweaters have destinctive whitebands at the neck, wrist cuffs and waist.

Religious Services

The choristers wear white hooded valbs with wooden crosses for religious performances. This is a costume worn by several, but not all French choirs. This ia a destinctive French costume for boys' choirs. Only in France do several choirs wear this costume for their performances.

Secular Concerts

The choir has a different costume for secular performances, quite a destinctive uniform. HBC has not noted any Frech choir wearing a costume quite like this. Green is a color not commonly worn by French choirs which more commonly use blue, but related to the German influence in Douai. See the discussion of the choir crest for details. The costume consists of white open necked shirts worn without ties, green "V"-neck sweaters with a crest, dark green short pants, white knee socks, and black shoes. The sweaters have destinctive white bands at the neck, wrist cuffs and waist.

There are youths and young adults which also sing with the choir to provide some tonal balance. This is important in performing many compositions. These older singers wear tuxedo-like costumes.

Traveling Clothes

The choristers for travel do not have a special unifotm. The boys wear their own clothes for travel. Most boys pick comfortable casual styles. Some of the concerts are local and the traveling clothes are not of great importance. Other concerts are in neighboring countries, but some trips involved quite lengthy trips making the traveling clothes important.

Other Outfits

The Douai choristers have worn a variety of other clothes from time to time. On a visit to California in 1989 they wore special "T"-shirts that they were given.