New-York tribune., 1902-08-10
ENGLISH CHOIR BOYS.
THE CHILDREN OF THE CHAPEL ROYAL
HOW KING EDWARD HELPED TRIM
ITY BOYS INTO sURPLICEs-THE
CHoIRs OF WESTMINSTER
paTTT'S.

TTY BOYS INTO sURPLICEs-THE
CHoIRs OF WESTMINSTER
AND ST. PAUL's.
II ss an old story. which The Tribune told its
leaders long ago. that IT was indirectly through
the agency of the present King OF knglaho
that srlrpiced choirs (or vested cholrs' as s"lie
sfscpxlers will have IT'D. were introduced IN New
York That was a trifie over twoscore years
ago. when the then Prince of Wales visited
anerica as Baron Renfrew. The desire to imi-
tate the cathedral services of Europe had sprung
ND among some influential parishioners or Ola
Trinity long before, and one eager soul had al
ready rro1ided the 'gown-gowns, but the op-
rostion 10 High Churchism was still so strong
fstfrred into activity, doubtless by the Trac-
tartan moYement) that the garments were kept
slowed away for years. Meanwhile boys from
the Sunday school and men chorfsters sang the
service seated in the front pews. Nhen the
Prince signified his intention to attend sun
day service. however, the organist, a devoted
ritualist saw his opportunity. and. harping on
the incongruity Of the spectacle which wouiu
be presented by a company of boy choristers IN
assorted roundabouts, he managed to get per-
mission to use the neglected vestments once
,1sed they were never discarded, and the move
J11ent begun thus under royal auspices. has now
all but complete possession OF the Protes1ah'
Episcopal churches in the American metropolis.
The choirs of boys and men do not make the
best church music in New-York Cthe honor or
doing that belongs TO the adult mixed choir OF
St Bartholomew's. which is also vested, or
surpliced). Musical aesthetics had nothing to do
with the movement at its inception, and has
had nothing TO do with its development. There
has been an Improvement in the character of
the music sung since the days of the old quartet
chorus but none in its performance The fault
lies with the churches and their failure TO pro-
vide that sine qua non-sound choir schools
such as are maintained in England. Here are
data about three Of the most famous choiTh OF
Great Britein-that of the Chapel Royal at ST.
Jsnaes's Palace, and the cathedrals OF West
minister and ST. Paul's. London.
Though the musical traditions Of Great
Britain antedate the establishment OF the
Chanel ROYAL many centuries, the choir of tnat
chanel is far and away the Oldest Of the ex-
listing English institutions of its kind. Dr
Rimbault who edited "The Old Cheque Book or
Book of Remembrances of the Chapel Royal
from 1861 to 1144," published by the Camden
Society says not only that il is the most an
cient choir concerning which VIC have any
authentic account, but also that in olden times
it was the fullest, best appointed and the most
remarkable for its excellence in the perform
Snce OF the C0OTai service II IidS DcS'i q o
erous contributor to England's Honor Roll, as
Mr. F. g. Edwards demonstrated when he maze
up list of names Of twenty Of the most dis
ffnguished musicians produced by England all
Of whom had been Chapel Royal boys Among
them were John Bull Orlando Gibbons, Pelham
Humphreys John Blow. Henry Purcell Thomas
Atwood Samuel Sebastian Wesley and Arthur
Sullivan. The majority of these boys off1ciated
later organists and composers to the Chapel
The choir is. of course. only one feature in the
organization. which comprises dean (who IS
always the Bishop of London). a Lord High
Allnoner. a Clerk of the Closet and two deputies;
q sub-Dean. forty-eight Chaplains, eight Priests
in Ordinary. Master of the Children, a Lay
Composer Lay Organist and Choirmaster
(offices generally. as now, held by MANI,
ten Lay Gentlemen. ten Children. one Sergeant
Of the vestry. one Groom of :he Vestry and
other attendants. 1t is with the musical staH
alone that this article is concerned The Chapel
itself must. in some form another, have been
attached TO the court from time immemorial,
but authentic records concerning it reach back
only to the time of Edward " Q461-14S39- Ed
wards brother and successor. Richard III.
seems to have done much for the Strengthening
of its musical features. AS set forth in
one of the articles or English Coronation
Music. in this journal some weeks ago, there
Ills time which authorized the seizure OF men
and children .'expart in the science of musick
throughout the realm, las well cathedral
churches colleges. chappels houses of religion
and all other franchised and exempt places as
eIIiswhere our College Roll at Wyndesor re-
eerved and except In 1926 early in the reign
os Charles / a commission was granted TO Dr.
Nathaniel Gyles. then Master OF Sonse, 10
take up weil-singing boys for furnishing the
-l,i- Tar0-
Royal Chapels,' in which occurred TINS Pro-
vision:
Provided always and we straightly chars aIo
command that none of the said Choristers or
children of the Chappell soc to be taken py
force of this Commission. shall be used or I'M
ployed as Comedians. or stage Players or 10
axarc;ea or acte any Stage plaies 1nterludes
Comedies or Tragedies; for that IT is not ntt
or descent that such as should sing the p.diSeS
of God Almighty should be trained or lInpIoSeu
9, such lascivious and prophane exercises
ORIGINALLY or an least in the time of Queen
.-,ats+b .be Children of the Chapel Royal
.,rb+ IN number. were boarded and lodged at the
t,ov.l Palace and had daily among them
. zoayes / resse Of create meate. i galones
of ale: and for wintere seasone, iii canoles
niche iii talsheids and lytters for their pahets-
They had also a servant to 'trusse and beare
their lvverye in courte," and when they were
or a tourney with the Kings chapel they hed
,ournence 2 dav for horse hire. More than that:
when they came 10 De elSDLeSh seaio oiu anu
their voices changed Crather late period for
mutation. we should say now). yf they VIII as
sente the King assygneth them TO College OF
oxeford or Cambridge Of his foundatione, there
TO be at fynding and studye both suffytfentiy
fylle the King may otherwise advance them
OF later years the King has not been so gener-
GUS The children not impressed, but chosen
from a host Of candidates. and they are fed'
lodged clothed and educated at the expense OF