Figure 2.--The choristers wear a school uniform of white shirts, blue sewarter and short pants, and white kneesocks. They also perform in their school uniform. Click on the image for a full view. |
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The history of modern French boy choirs is relatively recent. The chaotic history of France, especially the Revolution in 1789, as well as two Napoleonic Empires and a series of republics has meant that many national institutions and traditiions have been affected. This is especially true of institutions dependent on the Church. Thus during the Revolution the tradition of boys' choral music was lost to France and not revived until the 20th Century. That tradition was revived by the founders of Les Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois, the best known French choir. During the summer of 1906, two young students, on holiday at the Abbey of Tamie, in Savoy, form a project which seemed at the time to be a dream: to form a group of children which would go from church in church in various cities to carry the living testimony living of the authentic sacred music. This dream was actually realized in 1907. Les Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois were born. The quality of their songs, the purity of their voices, in opposition with the accepted musical style of the day, raise astonishment and enthusiasm. The white cassocks and the small wood cross fixed on their neck
appear, in their sobriety, like the signs of this revival. The history of Manécanterie of Les Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois starts. It faced the test of World War I (1914-18), which devastated its ranks. But nothing can end the faith of the founders and young singers. Manecanterie continued, more determined than ever, after the War. In 1924, the direction of Manécanterie was entrusted to young priest, Abbé Mallet. World War II (1939-45) was for the Choir, as for everyone, a long period of tests, with its sufferings and its deaths. After several months of relative quiet in the West, the Germans launched their long-awaited Western offensive (May 1940). After the War, Mgr Maillet played a major role in reviving the boy choir tradition in Eyrope. He died in 1963. Abbé Delsinne, succeed him as director of the Choir. During 15 years, until his death in 1978, he lea the Manécanterie with talent and determination as begun by Mgr Maillet. The current director is Rodolphe Pierrepont.
Two young students on holiday at the Abbey of Tamie, in Savoy, conceived of a project which seemed at the time to be a dream (summer 1906). They decided to form a group of children which would go from church in church in various cities to carry the living testimony of the authentic sacred music. This dream was actually realized in 1907. Richer in enthusiasm than in money, the two young founders settle in a small house in a Parisian suburb and accomodate the first children. The Choir was founded before World war I at about the sane time as the Boy Scout movement. Thus the Scout uniform was elected as the first uniform for the boys. The Choir was not at first a school or boarding operation.
Pope Pius X attempted to resurect the tradition of boy choristers in the Catholic Church. (1903). Les Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois were born as part of this effort. Paul Berthier formed the Choir and called it Les Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois (1907). The quality of their songs, the purity of their voices, in opposition with the accepted musical style of the day, raise astonishment and enthusiasm. The white albs and the small wood cross fixed on their neck appear, in their sobriety, like the signs of this revival. The history of Manécanterie of Les Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois lke the rest of France faced the test of World War I (1914-18), which devastated its ranks. But nothing could end the faith of the founders and young singers. The boys studied the chant and music about two hours per day. At this time there was no school on Thusday and Sunday. They practiced every Thursday during school holidays. The boys attended a catholic school in Paris with made special arrangements for them. They lived at home and attended school like other school boys. Most of the boys lived in Paris.
During tour the boys were accomodated by famillies in the cities they visited. .
Manecanterie continued, more determined than ever, after the War. The direction of Manécanterie was entrusted to a young priest, Abbé Mallet (1924). His appointment meant a new direction for the Choir. He was a man of an exceptional stature, animated by an overflowing faith, Abbé Mallet does not delay putting his imprint on the the life of the Small Singers.
under l'abbé Maillet, the Choir toured the towns and villages of France as a missionary group for this style of liturgical singing by boys. Their symbol was a wooden cross on a white alb, their liturgical dress. The Choir made a huge impression. Many other choirs were founded in France and other countries. Mallet led the Manécanterie for the first time beyond the borders of France, initially to the neighboring countries. Mallet in 1931 he took the Choir for the first time to North America. The Small Singers receive a triumphal greeting in the United States and Canada. It is the true beginning of their international crusade. It was the beginning of an amazing number of tours: 80 countries and three trips around the world. he Choir returned to America in 1936.
World War II (1939-45) was for the Small Singers, as for everyone, a long period of tests, with its sufferings and its deaths. After several months of relative quiet in the West, the Germans launched their long-awaited Western offensive (May 1940). Abbé Maillet had evacuated 40 of the choristers from Paris. He installed them in a small hotel in Rocamador. He also acquired two busses so the boys could give concerts to refugees and in hospitals (June 1940). The boys had been living at home on Paris, but were now in what amounted to a boarding school. One of the boys, 13-year old Joseph Pistorio recalls that the main salon in the hotel became their rehersal room. "Sometimes we gave four concerts a day, and I can remember many audiences--particularly the refugeees--in tears. But I think we helped people to forget their miseries as we worshiped God with a song". [Barber, p. 103.] Father Maillet for a time considered taking the boys to Bourdeaux where they could reach North Africa. Abbé Maillet took the boys on an extended tour of the Americas, but then returned to occupied France (1942). The PCCG during the German occupation toured Germany (March-April 1943). The Allies were just beginning the stategic bombing campaign in force and it was still safe to travel by train. They gave several performances for French POWs. (The Germans after the French surrender (June 1940), had interned the French Army in POW camps in the Reich. At the time the PCCB had just come from the Vichy zone and settled at the Rue Eugène Flachat in Paris. Paris was liberated (August 1944) and the Germans surrendered ending the War (May 1945). Abbé Mallet made a major initiative to transform and widen the role of the Choir.
The PCCB after the War was the most famous French choir and one of the most accomplished in the world. Abbé Maillet helped organize a federation of boy choirs after the War to help prmote choral music. The first Congress was held in Paris (1947). Some 3,000 boys participated. choirs from 15 different countries came for another Congress, this time held in Rome so the Pope could be involved (1949). The Pope held a Paapal Mass in St. Peters for the boys.
There were further Congresses and the movement was endorsed by the Pope Pius XII with the approval of the statutes of the Federation (1951). The Pope consecrated Monseigneur Maillet a bishop in recognition of his work as " Prélat du Saint siège " and appointed him as " Directeur International des Pueri Cantores " His appointment came during the second international Pueri Cantores Congres in Roma. His importance in promoting the boy choir movement. About 60 boys were boarding in the 1950s. The music and chant of course took a important place in their studies. About 1953 they were two choirs groups . The regular choir traveled extensivesly around the world with Monseigneur Maillet. Another choir was managed by l'abbé Delsine and gave performances in Paris and other French cities.
A reader writes, "The PCCB came back from the occupated French sector during 1943. They settled in a big house in Paris just near where I lived. I coud't be a real PCCB, because I was too old in 1955 to be one. But I had learned the chant and sacred music. I gave with them a number concerts in the churchs. I was a soprano in the Requiem of
Gabriel Fauré, The mass in Ut minor of Mozart and several Orotario the Messia of Händel. My parents was very proud of me. The PCCB left their Paris house for a castel near Paris in 1963." The PCCB moved to Meudon (1963). Mgr Maillet died in 1963. Abbé Delsinne, succeed him as director of the Choir. During 15 years, until his death in 1978, he lead the Manécanterie with talent and determination as begun by Mgr Maillet.
The current director is Rodolphe Pierrepont. The Baron Bic donated the Glaignes Castle to the Choir (1972). This is the present residence of the Choir.
Barber, Noel. The Week France Fell (Stein and Day: New York, 1976), 321p.
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