Dr. Buck at Norwich Cathedral

[Sydney Grew]

Although this has been posted elsewhere, it is such a delightful photo-graph that I would like to draw it to the attention of the present audience. Taken around 1875, it shows Dr. Zechariah Buck (born 1798) with his choir in the grounds of Norwich Cathedral.

A long and most interesting article about him and the choir he trained so well for so many years may be read here.

[ardcarp]

Like most boys of a similarly humble birth, Zechariah loved to play with boon and companions in the neighbouring thoroughfares, and might often be seen enjoying games in the adjacent "Castle ditches," as the locality was then designated. One day -- a memorable day for him --while singing in the street , a dignified figure approached , and , putting his hand upon the lad's shoulder, said, " My boy, who are you ? You must come and be my choir-boy." This was none other than Thomas Garland , the then organist of Norwich Cathedral, who, charmed by the remarkable sweetness of young Buck's voice, intuitively saw in the lad the making of a chorister, and a chorister he became.

One would probably be arrested for recruiting choristers thus today! I am unfamiliar with the expression "to play with boon". Can anyone explain?

The articles are fascinating not only for what they tell, but also for the perceptions of the tellers.

Any relation to Percy Buck?

A singer I knew well was a bass choral scholar at Kings in the days of 'Daddy Mann', whom, he informed me, had been taught to play the organ by someone (Crotch?) who was born in the 18th century.

[DracoM]

Boon companions? The 'and' is misinterpolated.

[mercia]

Crotch

1775 - 1847

[decantor]

Boon companions? The 'and' is misinterpolated.

Or - misuncapitalised - his best friend? His pet dog?

Nice to see the Norwich choristers in their scholarly headgear. I believe this tradition is preserved at St John's Cambridge, and at Christ Church and New in Oxford. Anywhere else?

[DracoM]

KCC toppers and Eton dress to and from chapel?

[decantor]

KCC toppers and Eton dress to and from chapel?

More the mark of the gentleman than the scholar, perhaps? (Not that the two are mutually exclusive, but they each have their flag.) Then again, perhaps the KCC boys wear gowns over their Etons - I've forgotten. But I'm sure the choristers of some other foundations wear gowns too, even if the square is no longer a round.

[pole_2_pole]

Or - misuncapitalised - his best friend? His pet dog?

Nice to see the Norwich choristers in their scholarly headgear. I believe this tradition is preserved at St John's Cambridge, and at Christ Church and New in Oxford. Anywhere else?

Do the boys at Durham sport mortarboards; or is that just the choral scholars? Not academic dress, but both the boys of Durham and Winch wear heavy woollen capes in the winter - very Harry Potter-esque!

[Magnificat]

Westminster Abbey choristers always used to process from the choir school to the song school wearing black capes and used to carry their mortar boards from the song school into the Abbey for services ( if I remember correctly they used to wear them in the cloisters ). This would have been in the eighties, they may still?

Surely Harry Potter's wearing of a cape is very cathedral/college chapel choir - esque not the other way round?!!

VCC.