Figure 1.-- Les Petits Chanteurs d'Asnières appears to have been photographed outside a German restaurant during the 1970s. This is the only French choir that we have noted wearing these caps. They were called "une toque" and commonly worn at French speaking Catholic schools in Belgium. They look to be blue, but we are not sure about this. |
The one rather unusual aspect of the Les Petits Chanteurs d'Asnièresboys uniform is the the caps. The caps look to be blue, but we are not sure about this. The caps appear to be a unique feature of this choir. We have not noted any other French choir wearing such caps. We also note that in the available photographs that while many boys wear them, note of the photographs show all of the boys wearing them, so it may have been an optional item. The boys are so well turned out in the photographsm that you would have thought they would have all worn the cap if it was mandatory like the other uniform items. It looks like the caps were more commonly worn by the younger boys. In one 1969 photograph the older choristers in white shirts and long pants are not wearing them.
The one rather unique aspect of the Les Petits Chanteurs d'Asnièresboys uniform is the the caps. The caps appear to be a unique feature of this choir. We have not noted any other French choir wearing such caps.
We also note that in the available photographs that while many boys wear them, note of the photographs show all of the boys wearing them, so it may have been an optional item. The boys are so well turned out in the photographsm that you would have thought they would have all worn the cap if it was mandatory like the other uniform items. It looks like the caps were more commonly worn by the younger boys. In one 1969 photograph the older choristers in white shirts and long pants are not wearing them.
HBC thought that the cap look rather like East German Young Pioneer caps. In fact at first glance we thought this might be a German Young Pioneer group. HBC has never noted another French choir wearing such caps. Notably not all of the boys wear the caps. HBC speculates that perhaps the boys perfornmed in East Germany, perhaps at a Young Pioneer event and may have been given the caps. Perhaps the Pioneers were sponsoring a choir competition of some kind. However, a 1970 portrait shows many boys wearing these caps so it must have been part of their uniform. So it looks like these caps were indeed a part of the choir uniform.
A Belgian reader tells HBC that, "The cap worn by 'les petits chanteurs d'asnieres' was commonly used in the Catholic schools in the French speaking areas of Belgium during 1950-70 for both boys and girls. This cap was called 'une toque'. HBC speculates that it may also have been worn in some French schools as well. Apparently the choir adopted a common school uniform garment at the time.
The caps look to be blue, but we are not sure about this.
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