English Cathedral Choir: Jesus College Choir


Figure 1.--The Jesus College Choir is one of three boy choirs in Cambridge. It is the most recent and is a non-residentil choir. Here we see the Jesus College Chapel Choir (in red) singing with the King's College Choir, another Cambridge University choir.

Jesus College at Cambridge University has a rich tradition of religious choral music. Jesus College maintains two choirs. The Chapel Choir was founded in 1849 and is made up of boy choristers that live with their parents in Cambridge. The boys sing with adults from both the University and city at large. The Mixed Choir of men and women was formed more recently in 1980. The Mixed Choir gives female undergraduates the opportunity to celebrate Chapel services through song. The musical make up of counter-tenors, tenors and basses are the same for both the Mixed Choir and the Chapel Choir. The Chapel Choir is one of three College choirs of its kind in Cambridge, the other two are Kings' ans St. John's. Jesus College differs from the other two because they recruit boys from local schools rather than operating a school from which the chor is drawn. The Chapel Choir sing two of the four choral evensongs per week as well as Eucharists. The Chapel Choir makes trips each year. The Choir in 2002 performed in Paris and other U.K. locations, including Edinburgh, Scotland. They also participate in joint appearances with the other Cambridge choirs. The Choir has made some beautiful recordings which are available. The Chapel Mixed Choir sings two choral evensongs per week and regularly performs at college feasts, concerts and additional services. The two choirs on occasions join for combined performances. The combined choirs have performed Bach's St. John Passion (March 2000, with the Hanover Band and John-Mark Ainsley) and St Matthew Passion (March 2002, with the Britten Sinfonia and James Gilchrist in Ely Cathedral). Since September 2001, the choirs have broadcast on BBC Radio 2 and 3. The choristers have reb robes `(cassocks) buttoning at the shoulder (figure 1). They wear a simple uniform when coming to the services and concerts. It consists of a white shirt, the Choir Tie, the Choir sweat-shirt (either brilliant red or sultry black), and black or dark grey long trousers.






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Created: 6:12 PM 7/7/2004
Last updated: 6:12 PM 7/7/2004