Figure 1.--This impressive photograph of the Berlin Cathedral nave abnd the Cathedral Boy's Choir was taken in 1932. The choristers wear a sailor suit uniform, but there is some variety. Many of the boys wear long trousers, while others wear knee trousers. Of the boys in knee trousers (long short pants), some are wearing dark knee socks while other wear either white knee siocks or long stockings. Apparently it was up to the parents as to whether the boys wore long or short pants and there was no rule about hosiery. A reader writes, "I think the casual looking dress shows that this was probably a reharsal rather than a performance. Note the empty pews." Perhaps, but you would think the boys would dress up for a formal portrait.

The Berlin Cathedral is not a cathedral in the true sense of that term. It is authern church and not the seat of a a bishop. Consruction was begun by Kaiser Wilhem I and paid for thriough state finds. It was a massive project and some viewed it as the Protestant counterpart of the Catholic St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. It wa inagurated (1905). Apparently the term 'cathedral' was used as a matter of prestige. The Cathedral had a boy's choir. It was a Protestant choir which was less common than the Catholic choirs, especially if you view the Anglian chuch as separate from Protestantism. Here we see the Choir (1932). The boys wore sailor presumaby based on the presedence set by the Vienna Choir Boys. We notice some variation in their outfits. Some limited damage occurred early in the War (1940). Berlin was, however, located deep in the Reich and was a difficult target until late in the War. Persumably the boys were evacuated before that. After the D-Day landings the Allies strategic bombing campaign began to target Berlin in force. The Cathedral was heavily damaged (1944). We have no information on the Choir during and after the War. Or how the Communist DDR Government viewed the Choir. Work on a temporary roof began (1949). Reconstruction began (1975). The Cathedral was located in the Eastern or DDR zone, but the work was financed by West Germany. Despite the atheist DDR policies, the project was apparently possible because the DDR needed West German Deutche Marks and because of the intrisic historical and cultural value of the Church and Choir. .

The Cathedral

Berlin's cthedral hs along histoty. everl buildings occupied the site of the modern Cathedral. Construction od a cathedral began on Berlin’s Spree Island (1465). The St. Erasmus Chapel in the newly built royal palace of Cölln on the Spree was elevated to the stature of a collegiate church. The German name for the Cathedral (Dom) evolved from the term Domkirche, which was how collegiate churches were decribed at that time. In 1536, the Elector of Brandenberg Joachim II moved the Dom into the former Dominican church, south of the palace (1536). Soon after, the Elector formally joined the Reformation with Martin Luther’s support (1539). The Dom thus became a Protestant Reformed (Lutheran) church. The collegiate church was dissolved (1608). The Dom was declared the highest parish church in Cölln on the Spree. Elector Johann Sigismund converted to Calvinism (1613) and the Cathedral became Court and Parish Church. Gradually Brandenberg evolved into the Kingdom of Prussia. King Frederick (better knon as Fredericj the Great) commissioned Johann Boumann the Elder to build a new baroque building to the north of the city palace (1747-50). .Once the coffins of notables were transferred from the crypt, the old, decaying Cathedral was torn down. Prussia’s Lutheran and Reformed communities were unified. Marking the event, the interior and exterior of the Cathedral were renovated as part of a classicistic conversion by Karl Friedrich Schinkel (1822. ). Actually the Berlin Cathedral is not a cathedral in the true sense of that term. It is authern church and not the seat of a a bishop. After unification, Kaiser Wilhem I decided that the ne German EMpire needed a much grander cathedral. Construction was paid for through state funds. It was a massive project and some viewed it as the Protestant counterpart of the Catholic St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The newly completed Dom was inagurated (1905). Apparently the term 'cathedral' was used as a matter of prestige.

The Boys' Choir: Staats- und Domchor Berlin

The Cathedral had a boy's choir. It was a Protestant choir which was less common than the Catholic choirs, especially if you view the Anglian chuch as separate from Protestantism. It is known as The Staats- und Domchor Berlin--the Boys’ Choir of the Cathedral of Berlin. It is one of Germany's most renowned choir, predating the modern Cathedrl by centuries. It is the oldest musical institution of Berlin. Frederick II of Hohenzollern hired five 'singing boys' for the music in the Dhumkerke, also known as the Domkirche or Cathedral church (1465). The founding of a court orchestra directed by Johannes Eccard led to the creation of larger choir (16th century). The Choir was expanded to 12 singers. The choir began to acvhieve international attention (19th century). The unification if Germany with Berlin as its capital was a factor here. The Choir was led by a series of gifted choir masters: Felix Medelssohn Bartholdy, Otto Nicolai, and Heinrich August Neidhardt. The fall of the monarchy after world War I ended imperial support for the Choir. The Choir was renamed Staats- und Domchor Berlin and became associated with the University of Berlin College of the Arts. Here we see the Choir (1932). The boys wore sailor presumaby based on the presedence set by the Vienna Choir Boys. We notice some variation in their outfits. Further changes followed World War II. The Cathedral and Choir found itself in the Soviet occupation zone and susequently East Germany (DDR), a regime with a Communist aethist ideology. When the Communists erected the Wall to isolate West Berlin (1961), the Choir lost its actual domain as it had become associated with the College of the Arts. It had been rehearsing in the western sector of Berlin for several years. The choristers had shift to other churches in the city. International concert tours made the boys kind of ambassadors for divided Germany. The Choir today is part of the Berlin University of the Arts. It has begun to sing in the restored Cathedral of Berlin (since 1993). Concert tours have taken the Choir throughout Europe and around the world. They have won numerous prizes in international competitions. The choir was awarded the European Youth Choir Culture prize in 2002. Ensemble members enrich Berlin’s musical life through performances in opera house productions and participation in concerts in Berlin’s Philharmonic Hall.

Choral Music

The magnificent Sauer organ plays a central role in the musical life of the Cathedral. The organ is played twice daily during worship, on Sundays in the religious services, in the musically-focused vespers on Saturdays, and in numerous concerts. Choral music is also very important. There are two renowned choirs – the Berliner Domkantorei and the Staats- und Domchor Berlin. Their singing as well as that of visiting choirs provide musical adornment for the cathedral's Protestant religious services as well as a range of concerts, including the work of modern composers. The Musica Mystica series mixes medievel monophonic Gregorian chant with the polyphonic organ. This fills the Baptismal and Matrimonial Chapel with the sounds of early Church music. The music program includes clssical works along with contemporary music performances which are increasing in importnce. The impressive architecture and an atmosphere that focuses the acoustic experience makes concerts in the Cathedral an unique experience.

World War II

Some limited damage occurred early in World War II (1940). Berlin was, however, located deep in the Reich and was a difficult target until late in the War. Persumably the boys were evacuated before that. After the D-Day landings the Allies strategic bombing campaign began to target Berlin in force. The Cathedral was heavily damaged (1944). We have no information on the Choir during and after the War. Or how the Communist DDR Government viewed the Choir. Work on a temporary roof began (1949). Reconstruction began (1975). The Cathedral was located in the Eastern or DDR zone, but the work was financed by West Germany. Despite the atheist DDR policies, the project was apparently possible because the DDR needed West German Deutche Marks and because of the intrisic historical and cultural value of the Church and Choir.