Sixteen boy singers with a problem

By Ann Kimmel
N April 25, Low Sunday, sixteen boys from the Birmingham area will represent Britain at the world-wide Festival of Sacred Music in Loreto, Italy. That is, if they can afford the trip.
For the Singers of the Holy Name (also known as the Midland Boy Singers). directed by Mr. Peter Grant. are a completely independent group attached to no parish, with no sponsor giving them financial backing.
The small earnings they make by singing at wedd:ngs arc spent on scores. Their robes are home-made (ruin material costing Is. I Id. a yard. Around their necks they wear black crosses made of mill rejects covered with Woolworth's paint.
When they practice at St. Patrick's, Walsall, or sing in other Staffordshire towns, many of the 50 boys in the choir have to travel up to 15 miles each way. If they're lucky, they may get a lift. More often, they have to pay their ov, 11 f\arrees. covering maybe 50 miles a ‘k ‘k
Rut the hardships have not dampened their enthusiasm or perseverance. Nor prevented them frorn developing into what some musicians consider "the most remarkable. incredible achievement" of any choir in England.
Mr. Grant— who doesn't believe in "dabbling formed the group three years ago to provide intense training "of a professional standard" for the Catholic singers and choir leaders of the next generation.
Roth Fr. Wilfred Purney, who directs the Church Music Association, and Mr. Jonathan Steele, aho directs the London Boy Singers, consider the Holy Name Singers by far the most professional, polished and talented" of the 60 groups that participated in last year's Pueri Cantores summer school.
THREE YEARS
Outside the closed circle of boys' choirs, however, they have received little recognition.
For the boys who have been in the choir since it began. the trip to Italy will he the crowning glory of three years' hard work.
When I visited them during a practice session in Walsall last Sunday. I asked what they would do if they couldn't find enough money to go. There was silence for a moment. One plump 10-year-old lad's face fell
Then an older one declared, "We will go!" The little one chimed in, "We'll swim!" And the others all agreed, Because Mr. Grant believes the most important part of the training is to vary it, the boys' study music ranging from Gregorian chant through 16th century polyphony to contemporary composers.
Two months ago they sang a madrigal written by one of the boys, Andrew Downs. on the B.B.C. Benjamin Britten is top of their pops at the moment, and on April 13 they will sing his Missa Brevis on the Home Service.
But while they take it all very seriously, they are not musical snobs. Most of them collect pop records -the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Kinks, in that order.
"Of course," said Richard Wilkins, 17, the eldest of the group. "pop isn't an art form, only a fashion,"
A younger boy with most of the others on his side broke in: -But you must admit. Richard, that it's satisfying!" And a spirited argument broke out.
"One of the nicest things about the choir is that they're all such good friends." said Mrs. Alvena Grant, who accompanies them on the organ, leaving her 10-week-old baby with Mr. Grant's parents. "There's never any jealousy. If one boy receives praise at a corn petition, the others are quick to pat him on the back."
he zest and harmony among the boys is evident when they sing. While Mr. Grant conducts, they watch intently. throwing all their adolescent energy into the song.
"Control!he shouts. "Now warmer, rounder." They obey, and the Britten Sanctus takes shape. 'They have to experiment to decide whose voice best suits a particular solo.
For, instead of following the Anglican tradition of trying to make all the voices uniform, Mr. Grant stresses each one's individuality.
The difference in sound could he compared with the difference beMeer; an orchestra that is all strings and one that contains brass, woodwinds and remissions, too. Boys stay in the choir even after their voices have broken. Sometimes the older ones take turns conducting. Those who play the piano often accompany.
"Above all we try to make the singing committed," says Mr. Grant. "It's terribly important to believe what you sing."
If the boys can make the trip to Italy, they will sing with the Sistine and Cologne Cathedral choirs. Like the British choirs who went there last year and the year before (from Westminster and Edinburgh Cathedrals) they will probably travel on to Rome and sing before the Pope.
But not sinless they can get there. So to help them with the fares-only part of which is paid by the Loreto Festival committee — the CATHOLIC HERALD invites its readers to come to their rescue.
About £300 is required. Donations should be addressed to the Editor, Can-roue Hutton, 67 Fleet Street, London, E.C.4, marked Holy Name Singers.