The Vienna Boys' Choir (german: Wiener Sängerknaben) is a choir of

boy soprano A boy soprano (British and especially North American English) or boy treble (only British English) is a young male singer with an unchanged voice in the soprano range, a range that is often still called the treble voice range (in North Americ ...

s and

alto The musical term alto, meaning "high" in Italian (Latin: '' altus''), historically refers to the contrapuntal part higher than the tenor and its associated vocal range. In 4-part voice leading alto is the second-highest part, sung in choruse ...

s based in Vienna, Austria. It is one of the best known

boys' choir A boys' choir is a choir primarily made up of choirboys who have yet to begin puberty or are in the early to middle stages of puberty and so retain their more highly pitched childhood voice type. Members of a boys' choir are technically known as '' ...

s in the world. The boys are selected mainly from Austria, but also from many other countries. The choir is a private, non-profit organization. There are approximately 100 choristers between the ages of nine and fourteen. The boys are divided into four touring choirs, named after Austrian composers

Bruckner Josef Anton Bruckner (; 4 September 182411 October 1896) was an Austrian composer, organist, and music theorist best known for his symphonies, masses, Te Deum and motets. The first are considered emblematic of the final stage of Austro-Germa ...

, Haydn, Mozart and Schubert, which combined perform about 300 concerts each year before almost 500,000 people. Each group tours for about nine to eleven weeks. Some pieces include "Good Morning" and "Merry Christmas from Vienna Boys".

Early history

The choir is the modern-day descendant of the boys' choirs of the Viennese Court, dating back to the late Middle Ages. The

Wiener Hofmusikkapelle The Wiener Hofmusikkapelle is the group of musicians serving at the court chapel in Vienna. It was founded in 1498 under Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor. It was disbanded in 1922 and was the forerunner of the Vienna Boys' Choir. History Prio ...

was established by a letter from Emperor Maximilian I of the Holy Roman Empire on 30 June 1498, instructing court officials to employ a singing master, two basses and six boys.

Jurij Slatkonja Jurij Slatkonja (german: Georg von Slatkonia, also ''Jurij Chrysippus,'' Slovenian: ''Jurij Slatkonja''; 21 March 1456 – 26 April 1522) was a Carniolan choirmaster and the first residential Bishop of Vienna. He was also the first owner of an ...

became the director of the ensemble. The role of the choir (numbering between 24 and 26) was to provide musical accompaniment for the church mass. Additionally, the Haydn

brothers A brother is a man or boy who shares one or more parents with another; a male sibling. The female counterpart is a sister. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to non-familia ...

were members of the St. Stephen's Cathedral choir, directed at the time by Georg Reutter II, who used this choir in his duties for the imperial court, which at the time had no boy choristers of its own. Over the centuries, the choir has worked with many composers, including Heinrich Isaac, Hofhaimer, Biber,

Fux Fuchs (German and Yiddish for "fox") is a surname; it has as variants Fux, Fuhs and Fuchß. Notable persons bearing it include the following: Notable people Fuchs, A - D * Arved Fuchs (born 1953), German writer and adventurer * Benjamin Fuch ...

, Caldara,

Gluck Christoph Willibald (Ritter von) Gluck (; 2 July 1714 – 15 November 1787) was a composer of Italian and French opera in the early classical period. Born in the Upper Palatinate and raised in Bohemia, both part of the Holy Roman Empire, he ...

Salieri Antonio Salieri (18 August 17507 May 1825) was an Italian classical composer, conductor, and teacher. He was born in Legnago, south of Verona, in the Republic of Venice, and spent his adult life and career as a subject of the Habsburg monarch ...

, Mozart,

Franz Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short lifetime, Schubert left behind a vast ''oeuvre'', including more than 600 secular vocal wor ...

and

.History from the Official web-site of the Choir
In 1920, following the fall of the Austrian Empire, the ''Hofkapelle'' (court orchestra) was disbanded. However, the

rector Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to: Style or title *Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations *Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...

at the time, Josef Schnitt, sought a continuation of the tradition. In 1924, the Vienna Boys' Choir was officially founded, and it has evolved into a professional music group. The choir adopted the now-famous blue-and-white

sailor suit A sailor suit is a uniform traditionally worn by enlisted seamen in a navy or other governmental sea services. It later developed into a popular clothing style for children, especially as dress clothes. Origins and history In the Royal Navy, th ...

, replacing the imperial military cadet uniform that included a dagger. The composer

HK Gruber Heinz Karl "Nali" Gruber (born 3 January 1943), who styles himself HK Gruber professionally, is an Austrian composer, conductor, double bass player and singer. He is a leading figure of the so-called Third Viennese School. Career Gruber is said to ...

is one of the graduates of the reformed choir. Since 1948, Palais Augarten has served as the rehearsal venue and boarding school, which goes from kindergarten level up to middle school level. In 1961, Walt Disney filmed ''

Almost Angels ''Almost Angels'' (also known in some foreign markets as ''Born to Sing'') is a 1962 American comedy-drama film about a group of boys in the Vienna Boys' Choir. The film centers around the chorister's recruitment process, the rehearsals and the ...

'', a fictional drama about (and starring) the Vienna Boys' Choir, set and filmed in the Palais Augarten. It was Disney who, for cinematographic reasons, persuaded the Austrian government to allow the boys to legally wear the Austrian national emblem on the breast of their uniform, a tradition that continues to this day.

Recent history

Gerald Wirth became the choir's artistic director in 2001. However, since then, the choir has come under pressure to modernize and has faced criticism of their musical standards, leading to a split with the Vienna State Opera. The choir has for the first time had to advertise for recruits after a rival choir school was established by Ioan Holender, director of the opera company. He complained of both falling standards and poor communication with the choir. He said that the State Opera sometimes trained boys for particular stage roles, only to find out on the day of performance that they were unavailable as they had gone on tour with the choir. Some boys were attracted to the rival choir school by the prospect of a more relaxed atmosphere and of performance fees being paid directly to them. The Vienna Boys' Choir has sought to update its image, recording pop music selections and adopting an alternative uniform to the sailor suits used since the 1920s, allowing the boys to dance as they sing. After Eugen Jesser died in May 2008, Walter Nettig became the choir's president. Gerald Wirth has been the artistic director since 2001, and he also became the choir's president in 2013. In 2010, following sexual abuse allegations from two former choristers stemming from the late 1960s and early 1980s, the Vienna Boys' Choir opened a confidential phone and e-mail hotline to allow others to come forward. Eight possible victims came forward saying they were abused, either by staff or other choir members.

Selected discography

Christmas

*''Frohe Weihnachten'' (2015) *''Wiener Sängerknaben Goes Christmas'' (2003) *''Frohe Weihnacht (Merry Christmas)'' (1999) *''Christmas in Vienna / Heiligste Nacht'' (1990) *''Merry Christmas from the Vienna Choir Boys'' (1982) *''Christmas with the Vienna Choir Boys'' (with Hermann Prey) *''Christmas with the Vienna Boys' Choir, London Symphony Orchestra'' (1990) *''Weihnacht mit den Wiener Sängerknaben'' ( Hans Gillesberger 1980) *''

The Little Drummer Boy "The Little Drummer Boy" (originally known as "Carol of the Drum") is a popular Christmas song written by American composer Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. First recorded in 1951 by the Trapp Family, the song was further popularized by a 19 ...

'' (TV 1968) *''Die Wiener Sängerknaben und ihre Schönsten ...'' (1967) *''Frohe Weihnacht'' (1960) *''Christmas Angels'' (RCA Gold Seal) *''Silent Night''

Pop music

*''I Am from Austria'' (2006) *''Wiener Sängerknaben Goes Pop'' (2002)

Other recordings

* Orff: ''

Carmina Burana ''Carmina Burana'' (, Latin for "Songs from Benediktbeuern" 'Buria'' in Latin is a manuscript of 254 poems and dramatic texts mostly from the 11th or 12th century, although some are from the 13th century. The pieces are mostly bawdy, irreveren ...

'' (with

André Previn André George Previn (; born Andreas Ludwig Priwin; April 6, 1929 – February 28, 2019) was a German-American pianist, composer, and conductor. His career had three major genres: Hollywood films, jazz, and classical music. In each he achieved ...

and the

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra The Vienna Philharmonic (VPO; german: Wiener Philharmoniker, links=no) is an orchestra that was founded in 1842 and is considered to be one of the finest in the world. The Vienna Philharmonic is based at the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria. It ...

) (1994) *Angelic Voices (1998) * "Doraemon no Uta" for the animated motion picture '' Doraemon: Nobita and the Legend of the Sun King'' (2000) * Silk Road: Songs Along the Road and Time (Music from the Motion Picture) (with Yulduz Usmanova and Nursultan Saroy) (2008) * LG G2 Theme song and ringtone (2013) * Strauss For Ever (2018) The Vienna Boys' Choir performed the song "

" in the

Rankin/Bass Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment (founded and formerly known as Videocraft International, Ltd. and Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc.) was an American production company located in New York City, and known for its seasonal television specials, usual ...

TV special of the same name.

Feature films

* ''Kleine große Stimme'' (Little big voice) (2015) * ''Songs for Mary'' (2014) * ''Bridging the Gap'' (2013) * ''Silk Road'' (2008) * ''

'' (1962) * ''

When the Bells Sound Clearly ''When the Bells Sound Clearly'' (German: ''Wenn die Glocken hell erklingen'') is a 1959 Austrian comedy drama film directed by Eduard von Borsody and starring Willy Birgel, Ellen Schwiers and Teddy Reno.Bock & Bergfelder p.43 The film's sets wer ...

'' (1959) * '' Der schönste Tag meines Lebens'' (The best day of my life) (1957) * '' Voices of Spring'' (1952) * ''Singende Engel'' (The singing angels) (1947) * ''Boys of the Prater'' (1946) * ''Concert in Tirol'' (1938) * ''An Orphan Boy of Vienna'' (1936)

Featured composers

* Johann Sebastian Bach * Ludwig van Beethoven *

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber ( bapt. 12 August 1644, Stráž pod Ralskem – 3 May 1704, Salzburg) was a Bohemian-Austrian composer and violinist. Biber worked in Graz and Kroměříž before he illegally left his employer, Prince-Bishop Karl L ...

Benjamin Britten Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976, aged 63) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, other ...

Anton Bruckner Josef Anton Bruckner (; 4 September 182411 October 1896) was an Austrian composer, organist, and music theorist best known for his symphonies, masses, Te Deum and motets. The first are considered emblematic of the final stage of Austro-Germ ...

Antonio Caldara Antonio Caldara (ca 1670 – 28 December 1736) was an Italian Baroque composer. Life Caldara was born in Venice (exact date unknown), the son of a violinist. He became a chorister at St Mark's in Venice, where he learned several instruments, ...

Jacobus Gallus Jacobus Gallus (a.k.a. Jacob(us) Handl, Jacob(us) Händl, Jacob(us) Gallus; sl, Jakob Petelin Kranjski; between 15 April and 31 July 155018 July 1591) was a late-Renaissance composer of presumed Slovene ethnicity.Skei/Pokorn, Grove online Born ...

George Frideric Handel 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 concertos. Handel received his training ...

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

* Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart *

Salomon Sulzer Salomon Sulzer ( he, סלומון זולצר, March 30, 1804, Hohenems, Vorarlberg – January 17, 1890, Vienna) was an Austrian ''hazzan'' (cantor) and composer. Biography His family, which prior to 1813 bore the name of ''Levi'', removed to ...

Smaller works based on anthologies

, Christus factus est *Anton Bruckner, Locus iste *Anton Bruckner, Os justi *Anton Bruckner, Virga Jesse *

Joseph Leopold Eybler Joseph Leopold Eybler (8 February 1765 – 24 July 1846) was an Austrian composer and contemporary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Life Eybler was born into a musical family in Schwechat near Vienna.Badura-Skoda and Herrmann-Schneider (n.d.) His fath ...

, Omnes de Saba venient * Gabriel Fauré, Pie Jesu *Jacobus Gallus, Natus est nobis *Jacobus Gallus, Pueri concinite *Jacobus Gallus, Repleti sunt *Georg Friedrich Händel, Zadok the Priest *Joseph Haydn, Du bist's, dem Ruhm und Ehre gebühret *Joseph Haydn, Insanae et vanae curae * Michael Haydn, Lauft, ihr Hirten allzugleich *Jacbus de Kerle, Sanctus – Hosanna – Benedictus *Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Kyrie Es-Dur KV 322 *Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Kyrie d-moll KV 341 *Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Misericordias Domini KV 222 *Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sub tuum praesidium *Giovanni Nascus, Incipit lamentatio *

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina ( – 2 February 1594) was an Italian composer of late Renaissance music. The central representative of the Roman School, with Orlande de Lassus and Tomás Luis de Victoria, Palestrina is considered the leadin ...

, Hodie Christus natus est * Michael Praetorius, In natali Domini *Franz Schubert, Salve Regina D 386 *Franz Schubert, Tantum ergo D 962 *Franz Schubert, Totus in corde langueo D 136 *

Giuseppe Verdi Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi (; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for his operas. He was born near Busseto to a provincial family of moderate means, receiving a musical education with the h ...

, Laudi alla Vergine Maria *Giuseppe Verdi, Pater noster *

Tomás Luis de Victoria Tomás Luis de Victoria (sometimes Italianised as ''da Vittoria''; ) was the most famous Spanish composer of the Renaissance. He stands with Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina and Orlande de Lassus as among the principal composers of the late Re ...

, O regem coeli *Tomás Luis de Victoria, Una hora

References

External links

*
School's official website

Friends of the Vienna Boys Choir
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Vienna Boys' Choir 1490s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire 1498 establishments in Europe 15th-century establishments in Austria Austrian choirs Boys' and men's choirs Choirs of children Musical groups from Vienna Musical groups established in the 15th century Organisations based in Vienna EMI Classics and Virgin Classics artists