Figure 1.--This portrait shows a group of young choristers dressed in their robes and holding open song books. There are two men standing in the back row that are probably the choir master and older singers extending the range of the choir. There even seems to be a girl at the left whicg we believe was not very common. Unfortunately the choir is not identified, but a notation on the back reveals that it was framed at AI Namm & Son, a department store in Brooklyn. So we know that it was a New York, presumably Brooklyn choir. We suspect that this is an Episcopol (Anglican) choir, but are not sure. The portrait probably dates to the 1910s. Put your cursor on the image for partial closeup.

The United States has a Protestant foundation. This means that until the 19th century, Americans worshiped mostly in Protestant churches. Protestants of many different denominations came to America and more develiped here. Protestant services vary as to how music is used, but the approach is congregational. That is the congregation sings hymns and service music. We do not to what extent Protestant churches during the colonial era formmed church choirs as opposed to having the whole congregation sing. Nor have we ever read about a boy or children's choir during the colonial era (17th and 18th centuries). The one exception to congregational singing in colonial America was the Episcopalian (Anglican) Church. (Some religious scholars see the Anglicans not as a Protestant Church, but a 'middle way' between Protestants and Catholics.) In both the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches, church choirs may sing full liturgies, including propers (introit, gradual, communion antiphons appropriate for the different times of the liturgical calendar). Even more common is the performance of anthems or motets during the service. We have never read about Episcopol boy choirs during the colonial era. An important factor here is that in England the tradition of boys choirs had declined so the Colonists did not bring this tradition with them from England. Thus We do not yet have any information on actual choirs, let alone boy choirs, during tghe colonial era. Perhaps readers will know more. This began to change in the 19th century. There was during the Victorian era in England, a revival of the boy choir tradition at the great Anglican cathedrals. And Anglicans emigrating to America brought this trend to America. So by the mid-19th century we begin to see Anglican churches organizing boy choirs. Our information is sketchy, but as far as we can tell, the early boy choirs wwre all Anglican. A wave of emigration from Catholic southern Europe brought Cathlics to America in large numbers, although we do not yet have much information on Catholic boy choirs. Just as altar servers were all boys, we think early Catholic choirs were all boys. The boy choirs throughout the 19th century were all church based. This continued in the first half of the 20th century. We note visits by European choirs before World War II like the Vienna Choir Boys. A French choir was even stranded in America during the War. After World War II we begin to see a number of secular groups founding boy choirs.

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Created: 5:46 AM 1/31/2011
Last updated: 5:47 AM 1/31/2011