Figure 1.--Almost all of the French choirs have been organized by the Catholic church. This choir at Bourges Cathedral perform in eclesiastical robes. |
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French boy choirs perform in a wide variety of costumes. Most French choirs are associated with churches or catholic schools. As a result, the often sing at religious services. One common costume is white monks' cassocks. Other choirs perform in ecleastical robes. The every day uniforms of French choirs have traditionally been blue sweaters, white shirts, blue short pants, and white knee socks. This was probably adopted by many choirs because it was the everyday school uniform at French private Catholic colleges in the years after World War II. Most French boys at the time wore short pants. Thus the clothes worn by the choristers were not a special uniform. The white kneesocks were a distinctive feature of French and some other European choirs. The white kneesocks, however, were much more common with French choirs than those of other countries. This was quite different than English choirs where boys beyond about 8 years of age never wore white kneesocks. They were much more associated with schoolgirl uniforms in England. One choir performs in destinctive brown velvet knickers with white long sleaved shirts, string ties, and white stockings. In recent years it has become uncommon for French boys to wear short pants as part
of a school uniform or for dress wear. Many of the French choirs thus
now have long pants uniforms. A few choirs, however, continue to wear short pants--although they often are extremely long at knee length. Some boys even wear their short pants below the knee.
Most French choirs are associated with churches or catholic schools. As a result, the often sing at religious services. These vesments are often like the ones worn by priests. The vestments worn here by the boys at thr Bourges Cathedral are agood example (figure 1). This contrast to English choir costumes which are different than the priest's vestments.
One common costume is white monks' albs. I am not sure why this is such a common choir costume in France. It may be because that many pribate schools in France are Catholic schools and at many of these schools the teachers are monks who dress in the albs. French boys at these schools may wear these abs for First Communion. Several different choirs perform in this costume for at least some of their performances. Many choir costumes such as blazers, eclesiastical ribes, sailor suitsm, and others are used by choirs in different countries. These white robes, however, are characteristic of French choirs.
The regularv uniforms of French choirs have traditionally been blue sweaters, white shirts, blue short pants, and white knee socks. This was probably adopted by many choirs because it was the everyday school uniform at French private Catholic colleges in the years after World War II. Most French boys at the time wore short pants. Thus the clothes worn by the choristers were not a special uniform, at least until the late-20th century. Only a few of the choirs were boarding schools where the uniform was worn. The white kneesocks were a distinctive feature of French and some other European choirs. The white knee socks, however, were much more common with French choirs than those of other countries. This was quite different than English choirs where boys beyond about 8 years of age never wore white kneesocks. They were much more associated with schoolgirl uniforms in England. A few choirs, however, continue to wear short pants--although they often are extremely long at knee length. Some boys even wear their short pants below the knee. In recent years it has become uncommon for French boys to wear short pants as part of a school uniform or for dress wear. Many of the French choirs thus now have long pants uniforms. Some of the better known choirs have retained the traditional unifirm
One choir performs in destinctive brown velvet knickers with white long sleaved shirts, string ties, and white stockings. There is only one choir we know of that wore this performnc costume.
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