French Boy Choirs: Concert Tours


Figure 1.--Home stays are fairly common for French cjoirs during concrt tours ithin France. It was one way of limiting expenses. And their hiosts enjoyed meeting theboys. They were often asjed to ing. Here we see two choristers during their homestay. They were photographed with the children of their host family.

French choirs both perform locally as well as go on tours. This varies quite a bit from choir to choir. Some of the choirs are well established and financed and achieve an impressive musical standard. Others are less well established. Quite a few are not so well established. Some only functioned for a few years and their musical standard was generally not impressive. Others with 20th century foundations now have long histories. The choirs perform locally, often in churches close to where the boys live. They commonly have relationships with these churches. They help enliven church functions and holidays. Some of the more established choirs that have achieved high standards are invited to go on tours. This generally means tours within France, including many small towns. The best known choirs have arranged must more extensive tours, including neigboring European countries and even far away countries including America, China, Japan, and Russia. They appeared before royalty, popes, primenisters, and presidents. This is of course very exciting for the boys, many of hom have not yet left France before or at least not traveled bryond neigboring countries. Financing is aerenialproblem for the choirs. The best known choirs may get fees for their performances to help finance the tours. One way of limiting expenses is to arrange homestays for the boys so that expensive hotel accomodations are not necessary. This approach is very common on tours within France. The homestays are commonly arranged by the local churches where the boys perform. Often the parisioners are interested in meeting the boys. Commonly the boys are assigned to hosts inn pairs or sometimes three boys. That way they feel a little more comportable and no so loney with their hosts. And for the boys there isabonus in that the families often arrange some entertainment are tours to see interesting local sites. Some trips are exchanges with other choirs, in which case the boys are hosted by the other choir.

Differences

French choirs both perform locally as well as go on tours. This varies quite a bit from choir to choir. Some of the choirs are well established and financed and achieve an impressive musical standard. Others are less well established. Quite a few are not so well established. Some only functioned for a few years and their musical standard was generally not impressive. Others with 20th century foundations now have long histories.

Local Concerts

The choirs perform locally, often in churches close to where the boys live. They commonly have relationships with these churches. They help enliven church functions and holidays. Some of the more established choirs that have achieved high standards are invited to go on tours.

French Tours

This generally means tours within France, including many small towns. Many of them do not live near plaves that have boy choirs. Thus it is a novelexperience for them to hear our music.

Home Stays

Financing is a prenialproblem for the choirs. The best known choirs may get fees for their performances to help finance the tours. One way of limiting expenses is to arrange homestays for the boys so that expensive hotel accomodations are not necessary. This approach is very common on tours within France. The homestays are commonly arranged by the local churches where the boys perform. Often the parisioners are interested in meeting the boys. After the concert, the boys may remain we remain on stage, and the choirmaster will call our names. They are then introduced to their host family. The number of boys in one family depends in part on the e number of host families which volunteered. Commonly the boys are assigned to hosts in pairs or sometimes three boys. That way they feel a little more comportable and no so loney with their hosts. They are often asked to sing. And for the boys there isabonus in that the families often arrange some entertainment are tours to see interesting local sites. Some trips are exchanges with other choirs, in which case the boys are hosted by the other choir. A former chorister writes, "One important aspect of the homestays is that while financial reasons were important, they wee not the only factor. Many manécanterie want the boys to experience the local culture, so the one way is for us to stay with local families. Another reason is they want the boys to be ambassadors of the manécanterie, to spread our values and tradition to the families we stay with. This could also help with recruitment. So, financial concerns is only one of the reasons."

Etensive Tours

The best known choirs have arranged must more extensive tours, including neigboring European countries and even far away countries including America, China, Japan, and Russia. They appeared before royalty, popes, primenisters, and presidents. This is of course very exciting for the boys, many of hom have not yet left France before or at least not traveled bryond neigboring countries. On these more elaborate stays, the boys may stay in hotels, althouhj homestays are also some times organized for the boys.









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Created: 6:38 AM 11/18/2012
Last updated: 11:00 PM 11/29/2012