Figure 1.-- This snapshot shows some of the boys from Bramocote Boys school, a prepatory school, at the end of the year prize giving, The school orchestra apparently provided musical entertaiment. A caption provides some information and the names of the boys. We do not understand parts of the caption. "The prize photo -- front cover and School College Management: John Newall, Nigel Cutts, Michael Thomas, Bob Kirk, David Whitehead, & Howard Land. Nick Mawson with Elephant. Hawk moth caterpillars -- self. Prize giving by Mr Rogers. Stephen Ro??. The snapshot was in an album and dated 1947.

Music is today an important part of English school activities. We have, however, few details at this time about the history of music education in England. There is, however, a long history connecting music and education in England. In fact the first known schools in the country were choir schools organized at monastaries. They were called song schools. Boys and their pure clkear voices were used in the liturgy at the monastaries. This was also a way of training boys for the priesthood. This tradition continued at the great cathedrals rose. Here we loose the historical record. The chorl traditions at the cathedrals was weakened by first Henry VIII's disolution of the monastaries, the Protestanr Reformation, and the English Civil War, but it never entirely disppeared. We have no information about music in the various schools that appeared in Britain, public (private boarding) schools, grammar, schools, national schools, preparatory schools, state schools, etc. We suspect that choirs were organized from an early point in the public schools because religious services were heald there. We have no idea about training in musical instruments. The ethos at the public schools put a much greater emphasic on sports than music. Notice that in the 19th century classic set in an English public school, Tom Brown's School Days, there is a great deal about sport, but I do not recall anything about music. [Hughes] We also know that there was a great revival of interest in choral music in the 19th century. Prince Albert was among those who showed an interest. How much of this filtered down to the schools we do not know. England lagged behind many other countries in estblishing free state schools, what in other countries are called public schools. We get the impression that drill and sports were more important than music, but we have few setails. We do see choirs and musical instruction in the early 20th century, but our impression is that major changes did not occur until after World War II. We see a very substantial increase in the emphasis on music. This occurred in both the state schools and the private schools including the boarding schools (public and preparatory) where the sports ethos was so deeply entrenched. A factor here was probably the spread of coeducaion. We note that by the 1980s a very large number of the chilren enrolled at preparatory boarding schools at least attempted to learn a musical instrument. We are less sure about trends in the state system. Music today is an important part of the National Curriculum.

History

Music is today an important part of English school activities. We have, however, few details at this time about the history of music education in England. There is, however, a long history connecting music and education in England. In fact the first known schools in the country were choir schools organized at monastaries. They were called song schools. Boys and their pure clkear voices were used in the liturgy at the monastaries. This was also a way of training boys for the priesthood. This tradition continued at the great cathedrals rose. Here we loose the historical record. The chorl traditions at the cathedrals was weakened by first Henry VIII's disolution of the monastaries, the Protestanr Reformation, and the English Civil War, but it never entirely disppeared.

School Types

We have no information about music in the various schools that appeared in Britain, public (private boarding) schools, grammar, schools, national schools, preparatory schools, state schools, etc. We suspect that choirs were organized from an early point in the public (elite private boarding schools) schools because religious services were heald there. We have no idea about training in musical instruments. The ethos at the public schools put a much greater emphasic on sports than music. Notice that in the 19th century classic set in an English public school, Tom Brown's School Days, there is a great deal about sport, but I do not recall anything about music. [Hughes]

Choral Music

Many countries of Western and Central Europe have a long tradition of church boys' choirs dating back to the midevil era. One of the longest traditions is that of the English boy choirs. While the English cathedral choir is a tradition imported by the early church fathers, the realtive stability in England has mean that the English boy cathedral choirs are some of the oldest in Europe. Historical references date from the end of the 6th century AD. English boy choirs often perform in liturgical choir robes. This is due to their association with the Anglican cathedrals and their primary purpose of providing choral music for church services. Hector Berlioz insisted that “Music is the very soul of a great church”. And after hearing choristers singing in one of England's great cathedrals, few will disagree. There was a great revival of interest in choral music in the 19th century. Prince Albert was among those who showed an interest. The traditiin had declined. And as a resul mamy cathedrals revided their choirs and choral tradition and excpanded or revived choir schools.

Modern Schools

How much of this filtered down to the schools we do not know. England lagged behind many other countries in estblishing free state schools, what in other countries are called public schools. We get the impression that drill and sports were more important than music, but we have few details. We do see choirs and musical instruction in the early 20th century> Major changes did not occur until after World War II. We see a very substantial increase in the emphasis on music. This occurred in both the state schools and the private schools including the boarding schools (public and preparatory) where the sports ethos was so deeply entrenched. A factor here was probably the spread of coeducaion. We note that by the 1980s a very large number of the chilren enrolled at preparatory boarding schools at least attempted to learn a musical instrument. We are less sure about trends in the state system. There are art, mucic, and dabce classes. Music today is an important part of the National Curriculum. At private schools, parents pay extra for instrumental instruction. We are not sure how that is handeled at state schools. We do see school orcestras and bands.

Sources

Hughes, Thomas. Tom Brown's School Days (1857). This classic book is is set in the 1830s at Rugby School, one of the most famous British public school for boys. The author attended Rugby School from 1834 to 1842. It has endless detail about the very rough life in public schools at the time. It is considered to be a work highlighting the need for reform. At the time, preparatory schools creating aafeer environment for younger boys werre beginning to appear.

Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Main school uniform page]
[Main country page]
[Long pants suits] [Short pants suits] [Socks] [Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers] [Blazer [School sandals]

Navigate the HBC Country School Pages
[Main School Page]
[Australia] [England] [France] [Germany]
[Italy] [Japan] [New Zealand] [Scotland]
[United States]

Navigate the HBC School Section
[Return to the Main English school activities page]
[About Us]
[Activities] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Countries] [Debate] [Economics] [Garment] [Gender] [Hair] [History] [Home trends] [Literary characters]
[School types] [Significance] [Transport and travel [Uniform regulations] [Year level] [Other topics]
[Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Return to the Historic Boys' School Home]

Created: 6:06 AM 11/28/2015
Last updated: 8:59 PM 9/9/2019