The groups sponsoring choirs of course affected the nature and music on which the choirs worked. Choirs have been organized by a variety of groups including the Boy Scouts, charity groups, church groups, municipalities, performance choirs, schools, and various private groups. The greatest number of choirs is of course church choirs. Quite a number of individual churches sponsor choirs. Here both Catholic and Protestant churches sponsored choirs. The most accomplished choirs are some of the other choirs with deeper funding and larger recruitment areas. Some local church and school groups probably do not reach a level of accomplishmenr beyond singing in local services or performances. Other more accomplished choirs are in demand and perform widely, sometimes even international venues.
The greatest number of choirs is of course church choirs. Given the number of churches in America, the number of church choirs is very large. Only schools existed in larger numbers and not all schools had choirs. Quite a number of individual churches did and continue to sponsor choirs. Here both Catholic and Protestant churches sponsored choirs. These choirs varied widely. Some were all adult choirs without children. Some were choirs with adults and children. Others were children choirs. These were often mixed choirs with both boys and girls. We are not yet sure how the various denominations approached choirs. We think in many cases the choices about choirs may often been made at the individual church level. Of course the undividual capabilities of the choir masters were also very important. Many of these choirs had costumes, normally robes. The choristers wore their regular clothes under the robes. Some denominations require women and girls to cover their heads inside the church so we see some wearing mortar boards caps or other headwear in some choirs.
Some local church and school groups probably do not reach a level of accomplishmenr beyond singing in local services or performances. Other more accomplished choirs are in demand and perform widely, sometimes even international venues.
Many schools organized choirs. We do not yet know much about these choirs.
We note some Boy Scouts choirs. We are unsure about other Americam youth groups.
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