Figure 1.--White cassocks like the ones often worn by French choirs are one of the Zeeland Boys Choir costumes. Note the wood cross.

Foundation

HBC has no information on when the Zeeland Boys Choir was founded or its eraly history.

Introduction

The Zeeland boys choir has its home in Goes, The Netherlands. This choir is an institution in which boys, aged between 5 and 15 years, can receive musical training. The choir has 70 members. They all have choir rehearsals in the choir school and they can also learn to play an instrument. The boys regularly sing in Goes and in other Dutch cities. They also sing all over the European continent and they have several times done a tour in the United States. The Zeeland Boys choir is a member of Pueri Cantores, a worldwide organization, in which religious boys- and children choirs are united. The choir is also a member of the Royal School of Church music. This organization is mainly connected to Anglican church music. The royal school offers help and support to member choirs.

Activities

Training

Boys, aged between 5 and 7 years, weekly rehearse for 1 or 2 hours. They are trained in how to use and develop their voices, reading music and hearing exercises. They also sing folk songs and simple hymns. After preparatory training the boys rehearse 5 times a week and as they start to go to high school, rehearsals are brought back to 3 times a week.

Figure 2.--The boys also wear red capes with white supluses. Note how the white supluses are shorter than the cassocks.

Church Choir

The Zeeland Boys Choir's main duty is to take care of the musical setting during the Liturgical services in the Maria Magdalena church in Goes. The choir sings nearly on every Sunday and religious feast day during Mass. The choir sings also outside of Goes during church services. The religious repertoire contains Gregorian music and polyphonic music, varying from composers such as Palestrina until today's famous composers.

Concert choir

The boys give concerts in and outside Goes. The program on the concerts is religious music and also secular music. Important are the concerts around Christmas, special the concert in Goes on Boxing day. An important annual highlight is the service of 9 lessons and carols in the Anglican Parish of Vlissingen. Every Tuesday morning in Goes and every Thursday morning in Middelburg during summer holidays the choir gives tourist concerts with the boys who are not on holiday themselves.

Other activities

The boys spend a lot of their free time in the choir school, where they can do a lot more than singing. The choir school has become a second home for a lot of boys, in which they can watch TV and videos and play games like snooker, football and table tennis. There is also a possibility for the boys to do their homework in the choir school.

Figure 3.--The boys also wear sailor suits, a rather non-traditional style. As a result of the Netherland's maritime tradition, this appears to be a popular choice.

Choir Costume

HBC has no information on the costumes previously worn by the Zeeland choir. Currently they have several costumes, including sailor suits, cassocks, and supluses and capes. There travel costume appears to be dark blue coats and matching blue pants with light and dark blue scarves.