A CALL TO BOYS AND MEN

By Lord Ventry
THIS article is not meant to be an attack on the mixed westend Choir. It is. however. a plea for the restoration of the truly liturgical choir of boys and it is this men for s type of choir
which is indeed more in the mind of the Church.
Before the Reformation public worship centred round the Mass and Divine Office. Matins. Mass and Evensong (as Vespers was called) were indeed sung daily in many of the larger parish churches. Hence choirs were essential. Today Rome wants all to take part in the Liturgy, and has asked that Vespers be restored as the M
evening service. Evening ass for os evening service. Evening ass for os
example is not supped to take the place of Vespeis, and in one country parish at least, they always sing Compline immediately after a full sung evening Mass, and even on feasts such as Candlemas
Tradition
AC'CORDINU to recent Instructions the organ is to be sited near the high altar, and the choir should be close by. The Scala Cantorum should be revived. The international federation of singing boys, the Puerl Cantores, is encouraged. So, in pleading for the revival of the old type of choir which always sang from stalls near the sanctuary. or in some instances from the lofts over the lovely rood screens, one is being perfectly loyal to Rome. Such choirs are true to tradition and it is certainly not a case of aping our Anglican friends.
Recruiting
ONCE we get the boys we shall begin to recruit snore men for our choirs. Most choirmcn are grown up choirboys. Once a tradition has been established a good percentage of the boys will stay on when their voices break.
A great deal of course depends on home influence, and nothing can be done without the lively support of the clergy and schools. One choir has hardly lost a boy in the last 25 years, and the sanctuary is crowded with former choirboys. A large number of vocations has also resulted from this choir. There is nothing Utopian in this. Given encouragement boys from the primary schools can be taught to sing Mass from the Graduale Vespers and Compline. It is mainly a case of patience and perseverance.
Records
SUCH choirs seem quite content to concentrate on the Chant, and
Daily Mass Guide
SUN., MAR. 11. FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT. I cl. Creed. Preface of Lent. (Purple) MON., MAR. 12. ST. GREGORY. Pope. Confessor, Doctor of the Church. Apostle of the English. 2 cl. Mass of a Pope and Confessor (Si dilittis me). Comm. of the feria. No Creed. Preface of Lent. (White)
TUES.. MAR. 13. OF THE FERIA. 3 cl. Proper Mass. Preface of Lent. Prayer over the people. Ile Missa Est. (Purple)
WED., MAR. 14. OF THE FERIA. 2 cl. Quattuor Temporum. At Mass. Oremus and special collect after Kyrie. Then Dominus ;Wisc.:mt, followed by the Collect of the Mass. (Purple)
THURS.. MAR. 15. 01; THE FERIA. 3 el. Proper Mass. (Purple)
FRI., MAR. 16. OF THEm FERIA. 2 cl. Quattuor Temporu. Proper Mass. (Purple)
SAT., MAR. 17. OF THE
rn
SAT., MAR. 17. OF THE
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FERIA. 2 el. Quattuor Teporum. Proper Mass. Special Collects after Kyrie. Comm. of St. Patrick. Bishop and Confessor. (Purple). In churches dedicated to St. Patrick, Mass of the Saint, with commemoration of the feria. Creed. Preface of Lent. (White) SUN., MAR. 18. SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT. I cl. Creed. Preface of Lent. (Purple) they do not pine for polyphony. If visits to Benedictine Abbeys are impossible the gramophone records of Solemnes, and tape recorders are a wonderful help. Carols and English hymns provide a welcome opportunity for part singing, and here the records made by first rate choirs such as King's, Cambridge, show what we have to aim at. Experience shows that, given the opportunity and real support, what may be termed "sanctuary choirs" do become extremely keen and are very faithful to their obligations. There is indeed an atmosphere of prayer when a choir is privileged to sing close to the tabernacle. This is perhaps the real even if unconscious attraction. "I he reverent processions and the choir actions, the etiquette indeed of the King's Court mean much.
Lead
THERE are those who say that such a choir is a distraction but need this he so? It is hard to see why a choir which behaves as it should and sings of its best should worry others.
There are some who ffnd a back gallery choir. however good, distracting. One's attention is pulled in opposite directions and it is difficult to concentrate on what is going on in the sanctuary. When the choir is in front there is none of this. for there it can give a better lead to the congregation than when singing from behind. The choir, like the servers, has a part to play in the carrying out of the Liturgy. and so logically should he placed where the liturgy is being carried out. It then prays as it sings and takes it humble part in the great Opus Del. Once the boys understand that they are there to sing the praises of God as well as they can, they give of their best. Boys, however, are boys, and none are perfect. We can only ask them to do their best, and in spite of all difficulties they usually improve as they get older, and the example of the older boys means everything.
Cantors
THE Church's Year is full of variety and there k so much to learn. Fortunately much is remembered. The years slip by and small boys grow and become men. Once their voices settle down they can often be trained as Cantors. There are many problems. For example, once they leave school teenagers are often tired after a long day's work. Choir practices arc then hard labour, for it is very difficult indeed to read music when really tired. Yet they still come alone, for frequent and essential practices. They thus set a fine example to the younger boys. Yet the attraction of the Liturgy is such. that boys and men give up a lot of time. Some choirs have to travel quite long distances, and yet turn up with great regularity to sing Vespers for ,example on Sunday evenings. II does take some little time for newcomers to attend with the m same regularity as the older embers. But once the first few months are survived it is comparatively rare for a boy to stay away without warning. Much of course depends on the parents, and it does take time in the case of a new choir to establish traditions.
Schools
yr would indeed he a yr would indeed he a I help if men with more leisure or convert choristers or clergymen would come forward. In this way the load would be spread.
Perhaps, too, our Catholic preparatory and other schools could form choirs. Some Anglican schools have done this and boys and masters go out singing in term time. This good example could surely be followed. Boys and men from such choirs would be of great help to their home choirs in the holiday period. In the Ages of Faith many boys received their general education at Song Schools. Even parish churches in many cases had these. Now, the process could be reversed, and boys could learn the Church's Song at their ordinary schools. Many boys would he glad and vocations might result. If Anglican boys are privileged to sing "in choir" why should our Catholic boys be deprived of this opportunity? Laudate Pueri Dominant.