Figure 1.--Here we see an idealized home music scene from a French Canadian magazine in 1899 . For most of the 19th century, home music making required actual people playing instruments. The piano was the center of many middle-class homes. We don't know who the illustrator was.

Canadian boys like boys in other countries studied music. Here we have few details, but suspect that the experience was similar to that in the United States. Music in the 19th century for children was primarily a home experience. Mothers liked their children to take up musicl instruments, this is especially true as the country became increasingly prosperous by the late-19th century. European immigration in the late-19th century may have been another factor. We are not sure if there were differences among the English and French communities. Mothers were often more successful with daughters than sons. Home music making change at the end of the 19th century with the invention of the phonograph. Later in the 20th century after World war I (1914-18) came commercial radio. Of course many mothers still encouraged their children to take up music, but the home music envirmonent changed significantly. I'm not sure about music instruction in the schools. Here we see an idealized home music scene from a French Canadian magazine in 1899 (figure 1). On the previous page we note the photograph of a Canadian boy practicing the piano, probably in the 1950s. It could have easily been taken in America. Note the Winter cap his little brother is wearing. this was also a popular style in America. We do not know much about Canadians who made important contributions to the music world. One example is music prodigy Glen Gould.

Boy Choirs

Many countries of Western and Central Europe have a long tradition of church boys' choirs dating back to the medevil era. Canada's bi-cultural tradition shares the heritage of both English and French choirs. England and France share some of the longest traditions of European boy choirs. The choirs in both countries were associated with the church. French choirs were associated with the the Catholic Church. English choirs were associated with the Catholic church until the 16th century and the proscriptions of Henry VIII who seized the monestaries where Englands choirs were primarily based. Afterwards the Anglican church inherited England's choral tradition. HBC at this time has only limited information about Canadian choirs. We have found some information about individual Canadian choirs, but little information on the history of choirs in Canada. All of the limited information we have found involved fairly modern 20th century choirs. As in the United States, many Canadian churches have choirs. Commonly the children's choirs at these churches are mixed boy and girl choirs.

Learning Musical Instruments

Canadian boys like boys in other countries studied music. Here we have few details, but suspect that the experience was similar to that in the United States. Music in the 19th century for children was primarily a home experience. Mothers liked their children to take up musicl instruments, this is especially true as the country became increasingly prosperous by the late-19th century. European immigration in the late-19th century may have been another factor. On the previous page we note the photograph of a Canadian boy practicing the piano, probably in the 1950s. It could have easily been taken in America. Note the Winter cap his little brother is wearing. this was also a popular style in America.

English and French Communities

We are not sure if there were differences among the English and French communities. Here we see an idealized home music scene from a French Canadian magazine in 1899 (figure 1). As far as we can tell, itis the Frenh community that was the major source of the boy choirs that seem similar to hose in France.

Instrumental Ensembles

We have not found much information on boy orchestras and ensembles. We note the Museque? des Cadets de St. Jean Bapiste>. St. Jean Baptiste is a French name that refers to John the Baptist. It's used in the names of places and churches, and is also the name of a saint and a holiday. The Cadets appear to be participating in the 46th Gymnasts Congress in Montreal, probably taken in the early-1910s. The idea that were 46 of these conngress held most in the 19th century seems unlikely. The source of ths information Maison de la Bonne Presse glass plate slide. We are not entireky sure why an instrumental group would be involved in a gymnastic Congess. We will nclude the slde information in case readers might have ome insights.

Gender

Mothers were often more successful with daughters than sons when it comes to music, but we noe that cul groups, both choirs and instrumntal ensembles were mostly boys. .

Home Music

Home music making change at the end of the 19th century with the invention of the phonograph. Later in the 20th century after World war I (1914-18) came commercial radio. Of course many mothers still encouraged their children to take up music, but the home music envirmonent changed significantly.

Schools

We have no information avout music instruction in Canadian schools.

Individuals

We do not know much about Canadians who made important contributions to the music world. One example is music prodigy Glen Gould.

Created: 1:47 AM 6/25/2005
Last updated: 10:58 AM 2/23/2025