The Freiburg Cathedral Boys' Choir (Freiburger Domsingknaben) is one ensemble of the "

Freiburg Cathedral Freiburg Minster ( or ) is the cathedral of Freiburg im Breisgau, southwest Germany. The last duke of Zähringen had started the building around 1200 in romanesque style. The construction continued in 1230 in Gothic style. The minster was partly ...

Music" in southwest Germany, which has a history that can be traced back over eight centuries. It is directed by

Boris Böhmann Boris Böhmann (born July 19, 1964) is a German conductor and composer. He was born in Worms am Rhein, was musical assistant at his home church, Worms Cathedral, between 1987 and 1990. His studies in Catholic theology at Johannes Gutenberg Unive ...

and composed of about 55 boys and 25 adult voices.

Historical overview

As early as the 13th century, there is evidence of a

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

school that played an important role in the formation of choral music at the

. Since the 16th century,

polyphonic Polyphony ( ) is a type of musical texture consisting of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody, as opposed to a musical texture with just one voice ( monophony) or a texture with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords ...

music for the boys’ choir at the cathedral has been passed down in written form. The boys sang at early

mass Mass is an Intrinsic and extrinsic properties, intrinsic property of a physical body, body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the physical quantity, quantity of matter in a body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physi ...

, at

vespers Vespers /ˈvɛspərz/ () is a Christian liturgy, liturgy of evening prayer, one of the canonical hours in Catholic (both Latin liturgical rites, Latin and Eastern Catholic liturgy, Eastern Catholic liturgical rites), Eastern Orthodox, Oriental O ...

, and on Sundays and holidays, often together with the Cathedral Chamber Choir, into the 20th century. During the

Nazi Nazism (), formally named National Socialism (NS; , ), is the far-right politics, far-right Totalitarianism, totalitarian socio-political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Germany. During H ...

regime, the choirs were dissolved, only to be officially reinstated on the

Feast of All Saints All Saints' Day, also known as All Hallows' Day, the Feast of All Saints, the Feast of All Hallows, the Solemnity of All Saints, and Hallowmas, is a Christian solemnity celebrated in honour of all the saints of the Church, whether they are know ...

in 1970. This was accomplished by the director of music and

prelate A prelate () is a high-ranking member of the Minister (Christianity), Christian clergy who is an Ordinary (church officer), ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin , the past participle of , which me ...

, Dr. Raimund Hug, whose 30-year direction brought new international acclaim to the choir. Since the 1970s, the Boys’ Choir has been responsible for Sunday and

feast day The calendar of saints is the traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the day as the feast day or feast of said saint. The word "feast" in this context does n ...

masses at the cathedral. The choir has performed in spiritual and secular concerts under conductors such as

Lorin Maazel Lorin Varencove Maazel (; March 6, 1930 – July 13, 2014) was an American conductor, violinist and composer. He began conducting at the age of eight and by 1953 had decided to pursue a career in music. He had established a reputation in t ...

Michael Gielen Michael Andreas Gielen (20 July 19278 March 2019) was an Austrian conductor and composer known for promoting contemporary music in opera and concert. Principally active in Europe, his performances are characterized by precision and vivacity, aid ...

, Neville Creed,

Philippe Herreweghe Philippe Maria François Herreweghe, Knight Herreweghe (born 2 May 1947) is a Belgian conductor and choirmaster. Herreweghe founded La Chapelle Royale and Collegium Vocale Gent and is renowned as a conductor, with a repertoire ranging from ...

Ingo Metzmacher Ingo Metzmacher (born 10 November 1957) is a German conductor and artistic director of the festival KunstFestSpiele Herrenhausen in Hanover. Life Metzmacher was born in Hanover, the son of the cellist Rudolf Metzmacher and the research biol ...

Roland Bader Roland Bader (born 24 August 1938) is a German choral conductor and music director. He is the principal guest conductor of the Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra and the Opera Krakowska, officially authorized as representative for their guest perfor ...

and

Moshe Atzmon Moshe Atzmon (; born 30 July 1931) is an Israeli conductor. He was born Móse Grószberger in Budapest, and at the age of thirteen he emigrated with his family to Tel Aviv, Israel. He started his musical career on the horn before going to Londo ...

. For its musical achievements, the choir has received various honours and awards. Concert tours have taken the Freiburg Cathedral Boys’ Choir throughout Germany and Europe as well as to Canada, Japan, South America, South Africa and Australia. In 2003, conductor Boris Böhmann assumed the artistic direction of the ''Freiburg Cathedral Music'', and has continued the tradition of a Boys’ Choir at the archiepiscopal chair in Freiburg. The choir has produced various CDs of

a cappella Music performed a cappella ( , , ; ), less commonly spelled acapella in English, is music performed by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Rena ...

and

oratorio An oratorio () is a musical composition with dramatic or narrative text for choir, soloists and orchestra or other ensemble. Similar to opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguisha ...

works as well as many radio and television productions.

Musical training

The musical education and promotion of young singers has its home in the Archbishop's Palace, directly across from the cathedral in Freiburg. This historical residence of the Freiburg bishops was completely renovated in 1995, and has since become an institution of the Freiburg Cathedral Music, known as the Freiburg Cathedral Choir School. Before a youngster of 10 years of age is accepted into the Boys’ Chamber Choir, he must complete musical training including individual voice

lesson A lesson or class is a structured period of time where learning is intended to occur. It involves one or more students (also called pupils or learners in some circumstances) being taught by a teacher or instructor. A lesson may be either one ...

s, choir stages (Early Education, Pre-Choir, A-Choir, Chamber Choir), and

music theory Music theory is the study of theoretical frameworks for understanding the practices and possibilities of music. ''The Oxford Companion to Music'' describes three interrelated uses of the term "music theory": The first is the "Elements of music, ...

. After having passed the entrance examination under the choir director, the singer receives a small Cathedral

cross A cross is a religious symbol consisting of two Intersection (set theory), intersecting Line (geometry), lines, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of t ...

which symbolizes his complete affiliation with the Freiburg Cathedral Boys’ Choir. The men's voices consist of experienced former choir boys who are further instructed after the change of voice. According to the englisch model they sing also the alto part, which is singular in Germany. Apart from choir training, music-theory and individual voice lessons, the children and adolescents can also receive various instrumental lessons at the school. Freiburg's Cathedral Choir School (over 600 members) is a prominent training centre for choir and church music in Germany and promotes musically talented children and adolescents and their early musical formation.

Discography

* H. W. Henze: Das Floß der Medusa (2017) * J. S.

Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (German: �joːhan zeˈbasti̯an baχ ( – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his prolific output across a variety of instruments and forms, including the or ...

: Mass in B minor (2016) * J. S.

: St. Matthew Passion (2016) * G. Faurè: Requiem (2015) * Freiburger Domsingknaben LIVE (2015) * J. S.

: St. John Passion (2010) * W. A.

Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...

: Requiem (2006) * G.F.

Händel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti. Born in Halle, Germany, Han ...

: Dixit Dominus (2005) * J.

Haydn Franz Joseph Haydn ( ; ; 31 March 173231 May 1809) was an Austrian composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. He was instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the string quartet and piano trio. His contributions ...

: Stabat Mater (2004) * W. A.

: Requiem (2003) * Celebrations of the Church Year – Choir and Organ Pieces (2003) * Baroque Christmas Concert from the Cathedral in Freiburg (DVD, 2002) * Festive Music from Benedictan Monasteries of South-Western Germany (2002) * Sax’n Dom – Children's Songs (2002) * J.B.

: St. Matthew Passion (2001) * J. G. Rheinberger: The Star of Bethlehem (2001) * Ave Maria – Songs of Mary (2000) * G.

Mahler Gustav Mahler (; 7 July 1860 – 18 May 1911) was an Austro-Bohemian Romantic composer, and one of the leading conductors of his generation. As a composer he acted as a bridge between the 19th-century Austro-German tradition and the modernism ...

: Symphony No. 3 (1997) * Rejoice, Heavenly Queen (1997) * Where One Sings: Popular Melodies with the Freiburg Cathedral Boys’ Choir (1996) * Jesus is Born: The Saviour of the World (1994) * Jubilate Deo – Festive Motettes of the Church Year (1994) * For Unto Us a Child is Born – Christmas with the Freiburg Cathedral Boys’ Choir (1994) * Masses by M. Haydn and J. G. Albrechtsberger (1991)

External links

Freiburg Cathedral Musik (German only)
* {{Authority control German choirs Choirs of children Boys' and men's choirs Church choirs German church music

Historical overview

Musical training

Discography

See also

External links