Figure 1.--The PCCB uses the same uniform for both a school and a trvel uniform. Here we see the boys at a school ceremony, we believe in 2011. |
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The PCCB currently has two different uniforms. We know they have worn these uniforms from the 1930s, perhaps earlier. A white alb with a wooden cross is used for religious ceremonies. The boys alo wear blue sweaters and short pants with white knee socks for secular performances and as a travel uniform. This was the school uniform. For many years they wore a beret with this uniform. A reader asks, "Is it common for choirs to have the same costume for both their school uniform and their concert attire? After reading up, I observed that they wear their school uniform (trademark blue sweaters and short pants) in school, during travel (on the airplane), and throughout concert tours. Since they also reside in school, does this mean that they are perpetually in their school uniforms?"
Until 1939 the PCCB choristrs were not boarding and would only wear their uniform when they
came to the Choir house, and also when they gone in group in the street. Outside these times, they dressed like any other Parisian childen. After 1943, the PCCB chorusters attended a boarding school and commonly stayed in their school uniform. Normally they had two,
The choir wears a costume of a simple white alb adorned only with a wooden cross (croix de bois). Of course this is the name of the choir--Petits Chanteurs ŕ la Croix de Bois. HBC believes this is the costume worn when performing at religious events or when performing religious music. HBC is not sure just when this costume was adopted, but believes it was at an early stage in the choir's development.
The choristers also perform in their school uniform consisting of a a white shirt, a blue sweater, and matching blue short pants, white knee socks, and black shoes. The boys also wore blue berets. This was a uniform adopted by several Catholic colleges until the 1970s. (A French college was arivate school with both primary and secondary sections.) They included both day and boarding schools. I'm not sure when the beret was was dropped, probably the 1960s. The boys wear this costume when performing the secular music at their performances. It continues to be their school uniform. The boys also travel in this uniform. All the boys in the choir, regardless of their age wear this uniform.
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