French Boy Choirs: Joining the Choir (Màne) -- Prise d'Aube


Figure 1.--There is a formal creremony when the boys and now girls enter their choirs (the Màne). The ceremony is called Prise d'Aube. The same term is used for new altar boys. This literally meands 'taking dawn'. I thought at first this was a metaphor, but it relates to awarding a boy his alb--the long white ribes the boys wear when singing church music. Prise d'Aube is a very formal, solemn ceremony. The children's whole families will attend the ceremony. The precise details of the ceremony will vary from choir to choir. Commonly the boys wear the choir school-type uniform. There are remarks, usually by the choir director. The older boys then help the new boys put on their new albs. After this the choir will come together and sing for those attending the services.

There is a formal creremony when the boys and now girls enter their choirs (the Màne). The ceremony is called Prise d'Aube. It is very common in France and Belgium and perhaps other choirs. The ceremony is similar in the different choirs, but each choir has its own traditions. The same term is used for new altar boys, although the ceremonies presumably differ somewhat. . Aube means robe, so prise d'aube is the receiving the robe ceremony. The long white robes which alter boys and some choir members wear are called 'albs'. Prise d'Aube is a very formal, solemn ceremony. This usually occurs about 1-2 weeks after the boys first join the choir because the boys must be measured first for their white robes. Also, the school gives the boys some time to get used to life in boarding school before the first formal event. The school uniform is given to the boys earlier so that they can be properly dressed at the ceremony. Before the ceremony they are given instructions on how to wear the school uniform. They also practise for the ceremony. The children's whole families will attend the ceremony. The precise details of the ceremony will vary from choir to choir. There are differences, for exmple, depending on if it is boarding school choir or a choir for boys living at home. Commonly the boys wear the choir school-type uniform. There are remarks, usually by the choir director. The older boys then help the new boys put on the white robe that many of the French choirs wear. After this the choir will come together and sing for those attending the services. One chorister tells us, "The ceremony is also the first time we see our parents and siblings after we move into boarding school. The feeling is happy but also a bit shy because we are in uniform." A reader tells us, "I have a little video of Prise d'Aube. I do not know which country or choir is this. Both France and Belgium have Prise d'Aube ceremony."

Traditional Ceremony

There is a formal creremony when the boys and now girls enter their choirs (the Màne). The ceremony is called Prise d'Aube. It is very common in France and Belgium and perhaps other choirs. Theceremony is similar in the different choirs, but each choir has its own tradituons. A factor here is that many of the adults founding choirs or working with choirs were choristers thenselves as boys. This tends to make for similrities among the different choirs.

Altar Boys

The same term, Prise d'Aube, is also used for new altar boys, although the ceremonies presumably differ somewhat. And some of the boys also serve as altar boys. This may show the historic relationship between altar boys and choir boys. We believe in the medieval church boys served as both altar servers and choristers. A reader writes, "I see that you wrote this ceremony is also for altar boys. Is the ceremony exactly the same as the ceremony for choir? I know in some churches, the choir boys are also the altar boys, for exemple a few choir boys will be given the duty of altar boys." I am not sure about the altar boy ceremony having grown up in a Protestant environment. Hopefully some of our Catholic readers can provide some insights here. A French reader writes, "Thank you for the information on prise d'aube for altar boys. This is interesing. I was chorister myself as a boy. Many of my friends were altar boys when they were younger, but they did not receive their alb in the same way as we did as choristers." Another reader writes, "I know a boy will usually sign up as an altar boy (usually his parent's wishes). He will go through a period of training, and after he receives Communion, he will begin wearing the alb/cassock/surplice." Just to prevent confusion, regarding altar boys, it is not always choirboys who srve as altar boys. Some altar boys do not sing, and some choir boys do not serve the priest. So it depends on the arrangement between the choir and the church as well as the parents and boys interestes and commitment.

The Ceremony

Aube means robe, so prise d'aube is the receiving the robe ceremony. The long white robes which alter boys and some choir members wear are called 'albs'. Prise d'Aube is a very formal, solemn ceremony. The precise details of the ceremony will vary from choir to choir. There are differences, for exmple, depending on if it is boarding school choir or a choir for boys living at home. Commonly the boys wear the choir school-type uniform. There are remarks, usually by the choir director. The older boys then help the new boys put on the white robe that many of the French choirs wear. After this the choir will come together and sing for those attending the services. One chorister tells us, "The ceremony is also the first time we see our parents and siblings after we move into boarding school. The feeling is happy but also a bit shy because we are in uniform."

Timing

This usually occurs about 1-2 weeks after the boys first join the choir because the boys must be measured first for their white robes. Also, the school gives the boys some time to get used to life in boarding school before the first formal event. The school uniform is given to the boys earlier so that they can be properly dressed at the ceremony. Before the ceremony they are given instructions on how to wear the school uniform. They also practise for the ceremony. In some choirs, the prise d'aube can be delayed until 1 year after the boys joins the choir. This varies among the different choirs. Some choirs have requirement before a boy can formally receive the aube.

Family

The children's whole families attends the ceremony. For many of the boys it is their first real chievement for which the families can be duly proud.

Video

A reader tells us, "I have a little video of Prise d'Aube. I do not know which country or choir is this. It is clearly an established cathedral choir. Both France and Belgium have Prise d'Aube ceremony." It can be viewed here. Unfortunately because of space limitations, we are limited as to how many of these videos we can load. Notice in the video, the new boys usually do not know the rules yet, and you see some boys standing casually." They have not yet been trained in stahecraft. Compare them to the older boys in the white robes who have been with the choir for some time.






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Created: 8:20 PM 12/8/2012
Last updated: 9:20 PM 2/12/2013