Angelic Voices: The Choristers of Salisbury Cathedral on BBC 4

[Guest]

I notice that there is a documentary about Salisbury cathedral choirs and school on BBC 4 at 9.00 pm on Sunday.

Forum members may be interested.

VCC

[DracoM]

Thanks for the notice. Is it a repeat? I seem to recall earlier.................???

[pole_2_pole]

WARNING: May contain choristers of a female sex.

[Norfolk Born]

I've just watched this excellent documentary. I found it inspiring, informative and moving in equal measure. The device of proceeding in parallel through the history of English choral music and the school year worked brilliantly. Unreservedly recomended!

[Mary Chambers]

I watched this feeling incredibly envious (no girl choristers in my youth), but also furious that this kind of training, for boys or girls, can't be found outside the church. They may have let girls in, but it's still very restricted as far as the population at large is concerned.

Just a thought - the girls all have to sing treble/soprano, don't they? What happens to girls with good alto voices? The men sing the alto parts.

My head says that of course girls should be choristers, but I'm afraid that in my heart I still prefer the boys. There's just something about knowing that their wonderful voices are temporary.

[Norfolk Born]

Yes, but what did you think of the programme?

[Mary Chambers]

I thought it was excellent, very well made, and the children were superb. I'm still jealous, though.

[Norfolk Born]

I was staggered to learn that there are STILL people out there who claim that 'girls can't sing'. Did I also hear correctly that none of the cathedrals in the London area offers girl choristers the opportunities offered to them at Salisbury?

[Mary Chambers]

I think Southwark has a girls' choir, but the main ones, St Paul's and Westminster Abbey, and Westminster RC Cathedral, don't.

[subcontrabass]

I was staggered to learn that there are STILL people out there who claim that 'girls can't sing'. Did I also hear correctly that none of the cathedrals in the London area offers girl choristers the opportunities offered to them at Salisbury?

I do not know how you define "the London area" but both Southwark and Rochester Cathedrals have girls' choirs.

[DracoM]

Not entirely convinced that we haven't just watched a BBC promo very skilfully managed in a particular direction. Excellent production values, beautifully shaped and edited etc etc, A really pro job, BUT I have to confess to being increasingly mystified as I watched.

The girls were indeed engaging, enthusiastic, musically sound, and the adults managing the situation credible and keen, but for quite long stretches of that film you might be forgiven for forgetting that there were even boys singing in that cathedral.

[Mary Chambers]

I noticed the boys most! But yes, perhaps it was slanted rather towards the girls.

[Norfolk Born]

I thought the balance between girls, boys and adults was very well judged. The material relating to the Stanford alone accounted for a fair slice of the 90 minutes.

[Simon Biazeck]

What happens to girls with good alto voices? The men sing the alto parts.

My head says that of course girls should be choristers, but I'm afraid that in my heart I still prefer the boys. There's just something about knowing that their wonderful voices are temporary.

Good point, Mary. Westminster Cathedral Choir combine the alto boys with two Countertenors, so there's no reason why that wouldn't work. This begs the question on behalf of alto boys in general too. I wonder what prompted WCC to do that in the first place? As far as I am aware it is unique to Westminster Cathedral. I thought both choirs were great and brought different and complimentary qualities to their work, which is excellent and a lesson in life right there. The farewell sequence accompanied by Blest Pair of Sirens was very moving!

[Magnificat]

Absolutely delightful. The kids were totally charming and Salisbury is obviously a very happy place. I thought the balance between the contributions of the boys and girls was pretty much about right.

I did wonder whether there would be very much more to say about cathedral choir schools and whether this documentary would be much like all the others in the past but the girl chorister angle obviously made for differences as did the very interesting contributions by John Harper and other historical pieces and I thought it eminently watchable. The scenery was an added bonus.

Although the tradition of boys singing in our cathedrals is very precious and must be preserved at all costs and not in any way put in danger ( eg by mixing the boys and girls except very occasionally as at Salisbury ) I think Richard Seal was right in 1991 to realise that it was no longer possible to deny girls the chance of singing in cathedrals.

VCC