So suggests the Catholic Herald.

Of course it's strongly male. It's a MEN AND BOYS CHOIR and should remain so. It will NOT be difficult to maintain and continue if operated correctly. "Even in the treble range" to me hints of a desire to introduce girls into the treble section which would destroy this choir. This line has been used with many other all male choirs in order to destroy their uniqueness. I have seen this happen and said just this way. WHY CAN'T ALL FEMALE CHOIRS BE ESTABLISHED AND LEAVE MEN AND BOY CHOIRS ALONE? ARE THEY A TREAT? It causes me enormously great offense and anger as feminist all over the world have sought out to change historical traditional choirs like this especially in cathedrals.

Finally, there are NOT fewer boys to choose from! This is a false statement and a lie at worst or ignorance at best (NOT TO MENTION STRIKES AT BEING LAZY TO DO DUE DILIGENCE AT ONE'S WORK AND TO BE GENUINELY SUPPORTIVE). One by one I have seen the great all male choirs destroyed for various reasons and all based on modernistic feminism and new age systems of pseudo inclusion and supposed new perspectives of Christianity based on intentionally wrongful and demonic infiltration and attacks on the foundations, theology and long held traditions of the Church. Can you tell that this hit home to me? ABSOLUTELY IT DOES! My blood is just boiling over this!

If I do, my sincere apologies. The subject is very painful and extremely hurtful to me having been in 3 separate men and boy choirs that were destroyed by uber liberal clergy and others hell bent on pushing their ideology. Again, if I misunderstood you, my apologies. My temper was kindled after reading that article.

I am not absolutely certain, but I believe that the Westminster choir follows the European tradition of having boys not only on the treble but also the alto line. All other English choirs have boys in the treble and male altos or countertenors in the alto register. These differing arrangements make for noticeably different tonal results in the respective choirs.

I noticed some years ago that the Westminster choir seemed not to have the brilliance in the inner voices that other English choirs had. Careful listening revealed that boys, not men, were singing the alto line.

What kind of parent would send an eight year old child to boarding school 7 days a week? Five would be bad enough - but seven?

Somewhat troubling to see that although the full choir was supposed to resume on 5th January, no music lists have appeared on the usual website.

Pax,

Boarding schools aren't just for the five days of the school week. Choir schools (take St. John's, Cambridge, or Kings' Cambridge as obvious examples) have fewer vacation days than other boarding schools.

What kind of parent would send an eight year old child to boarding school 7 days a week? Five would be bad enough - but seven?

My parents. I thank them every day that I had that kind of intensive musical education at the highest professional level. I would not, in any way, be the musician I am today without it, and I loved every minute of it. Would that more children could have the immense privilege of this kind of musical education.

More here, I will note the writer of the column is a gossip!

https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2020/01/westminster-cathedrals-musical-heritage-is-under-threat/?fbclid=IwAR3Zu_maTjl5EsTDiL5h6PUl_u3D7Hz77yUyhF-6Q2t2ftGakl-I9Wi9rcc

the sex scandal is the ruin of much... in my mind, our ENTIRE Church is in shatters, mostly over this single 'issue' (the more accurate term is 'sin').

Considering property values in Westminster, that more credibly means . . . more Russian chants.

True, Kathy. Our African Catholics are attracted by decent liturgy and music. I haven't found them at folk, or so called "contemporary" masses.

It's interesting. Our Africans are from Cameroon. One of our PC folks who tries to pander to everyone, asked one of them what they sing for Christmas in her native land. She said, "O Come All Ye Faithful." They seem to fit right in with our more traditional English masses.

Whole I was at the Shrine in the mid-90’s, I planned and played for the 1:30 pm NO Latin Mass, which was staffed by a cantor. We had a very ethnically diverse congregation. The chant singing was always full-throated! It was very inspiring.

Haha. Someone here asked a parishioner from Haiti what her favorite Communion song from her country was; Answer: "Adoro te, devote".

You are lucky.

Many people from African countries have been done a dreadful dis-service by the poor musical skills and lack of musical discernment displayed by many missionaries. There are things which western countries tried in the 1960s/70s, which were rightfully dropped from the church repertoire - but which are still very widely used in Africa and some parts of Asia.

And I say that as someone who dislikes (and cannot pray with) much of the music which people here hold dear.

Btw, speaking of English choral sounds, it's interesting that there's not been any commentary on the revolution in the King's College (Cambridge) Choir's sound manifested on international broadcast on Christmas Eve. It shows how, will an excellently skilled ensemble (choral or orchestral), a change in skilled directors can effect change much more quickly than with less skilled ensembles.

(I have a recording. Family member was listening and agreed with me that we were witnessing a revolution (hard to deny with that forthright treble opening to Once In Royal David's City - no wee little King's College treble sound that), and downloaded the feed and converted with his audiophile technical skills and tools. Cannot readily share it with others, too big to email.)

Liam,

I haven't been able to devote the time to keeping up with the goings on at King's college, so I hope you'll excuse the Philistine's question: Is this "revolution" an improvement?

Ord, Willcocks, Ledger, Cleobury, Hyde, all had/have their own sounds.

"Is this "revolution" an improvement?"

Perhaps not if one has a special fondness for that what my British chorister friends referred to colloquially as "wee" sound that KCC cultivated in its trebles, which fondness I don't share.

Astonishingly callous is the politest thing that can be said about the 'powers that be' at Westminster.
Again, yet again, we see that too many of those who have positions of authority in the Catholic Church are without conscience and are either culturally illiterate and/or couldn't care less about the state of music in the Church - or about those whom they hurt.
Fiendishly, mercilessly callous!
This is not just a loss for Westminster - it is a loss to all of us (but what do they care?).

Let us pray for all those everywhere, young, mature, and old, who are victims of such pitiless administrations.

Speaking of Choir Schools - I'm currently reading a fascinating book about the near one thousand year history of the Choir School at Sarum (Salisbury Cathedral). The boys have seen good and bad days, coddled and pampered by some, such as St Osmund, the founder; and at times foisted off to make their best of it in the town. Somehow they have survived to sing the daily praises of God since the tenth century.

The book is entitled Sarum Close, and is by Dora H. Robertson. The publisher was Firecrest and it was published in the 1930s. If a copy can be found at Amazon or elsewhere it would be well worth the price. An enriching account for all who love Church Music and those who make it.

I just checked Amazon and Sarum Close is indeed available for about $15.
Another charming book on the subject is Quires and Places Where They Sing, by Sir Sidney H. Nicholson (1954), also available from Amazon - about $25 for a used copy and, if one is sufficiently well endowed, a new copy for $967.

Developments - Simon Johnson, who has been organist and assistant director of music at St Paul's will move to Westminster.
https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/14139/st-paul-s-organist-moves-to-westminster-cathedral?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=22 May 2021&utm_content=22 May 2021+CID_c2d18139ae07e9bd4b1581b24b95b977&utm_source=SxTabNews_v1&utm_term=Ruth Gledhill