That 'continental' sound

[Miles Coverdale]

..and why do they appear to be wearing hearing aids???

I think those are called in-ear monitors.

[Wolsey]

One factor in the sound that boys make must surely be the influence of the Director of Music. [...] I feel sure that a DoM's speaking voice and personality must be a vital influence in the resulting tone of a choir.

In an article written by Peter Phillips (The Golden Age Regained, Pt 2 - Early Music Vol 8, No. 2, April 1980), Richard Seal and the late John Birch partly attribute the quality of the boys' sound to another factor - the tone of the organ. Dr Seal, then at Salisbury, told Phillips "boys imitate what they hear, and the quality of an instrument they sing to every day inevitably rubs off on them. This [Father Willis] instrument has a live, almost fiery sound, very penetrating, vital and strong, and the singing reflects this. At Chichester the pipe organ produced a sweet sound, quiet and very well-suited to the building. Of course, both organs were designed for their respective buildings, so in the end you must go back to the building. Last year we had a different practice piano from our usual grand piano - a weak-toned upright - and at the same time, the main organ was being overhauled and we had a pathetic electronic. The combined result was to play havoc with the singing. It became spineless, without bite or character."

[EnemyoftheStoat]

I think those are called in-ear monitors.

Is that so their parents know if they need feeding... or something?