Figure 1.--The press caption dated March 5, 1936 for this photograph read, "Ten little boys with silvery voices sang in Chester Cathedral this week. They are from the St. Mary of the Angels Song School, Highgate, London and were found in the slums by Rev. Desmond Morse-Boycott. They are now touring the North of England. The slum-boy choristers in the grounds of Chester Cathedral during their visit." I am not sure 'found in the slums' is a fair characterization, but many of the boys were from working-class families, often church going families.

St Mary's of the Angels Song School was fonded and operated by Father Desmond and other kndividuals connected with the Anglican Church. So iturgical music was a major part of their repotoire. We note the boys making tours and singing as part of the services in the great English cathedrals. So liturgical music seems to have been the music for which they were trained. A former chorister tells us, "The music was in the high Anglican tradition with some secular classical pieces. A few of the pieces we sang were:
Rejoice in the Lord Alway - Henry Purcell
The Plough Boy - Benjamin Britten
Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring - J S Bach
Hear My Prayer - Felix Mendelssohn (in which I sang the solo part but not nearly as well as Master Ernest Lough!!)
Where the Bee Sucks - Thomas Arne (Tempest)
Laudate Dominum - W. Mozart (Father Desmond's favourite piece I recall
Jesu Saviour I am Thine - J S Bach (St Matthew Passion)
My Heart Ever Faithfull - J S Bach
Panis Angelicus - Cesar Franck
Ave Verum Corpus - W Mozart
How Lovely is thy Dwelling Place - J Brahms (German Requiem)
All in the April Evening - Hugh Roberton (of Glasgow Orpheus Choir fame)
Nymphs and Shepherds - Henry Purcell (made famous by the Manchester Schools Choir in a 1928 recording)
I Know That My Redeemer Liveth - G F Handel (Messiah)
How Beautiful are the Feet - Handel
Lullaby - Franz Schubert
I would that my Love - Felix Mendelssohn
God Be In My Head - Henry Walford Davies (Master of the Kings Music in the 1920's)." [King]

Sources

King, David. E-mail message, January 12, 2014. David attended the Song School from January 2, 1960 to Christmas 1963. He was Head Boy during 1962-63. He tells us, "My pleasure to add to your web page. I remember the school with great affection."