English Español
Français Nederlands
Deutsch русский
Japanese Chinese
Home | Browse | Choirs | Trebles | Singers | Films | Books | New Releases | Events | Search | | Links | Contact BCSD | Sign In
9 BOOKS Biographies | Fiction | General Choral | Pop Music & Fanzines | Magazines & Periodicals

 Books - Choral Biographies


Aled Jones' Forty Favourite Hymnes ( 2009 )

Featuring Aled Jones  
by Aled Jones. Hardback.


Aled Jones: Walking on Air (Fontana 1986 ISBN: 0006371094 )

Featuring Aled Jones  
by David Bland. 107 pages.

Available at  Amazon UK


Aled: The Autobiography (Virgin Books 2004 ISBN: 1852272503 )

Featuring Aled Jones  
by Aled Jones with Darren Henley, 256 pages. Aled tells of the pressure of childhood fame and his determination to forge a career after his voice broke, and how he is back in the charts and selling out his live performances.

Available at  Amazon UK


Alumneumserinnerungen (Förderverein Kreuzchor 2012 )

Featuring Der Dresdner Kreuzchor  
Gustav Wustmann (1844-1910) Kruzianer und Alumne von 1854-1862 / Choir boy and member of the boarding school 1854-1862 Alumneumserinnerungen von einem alten Kreuzschüler Memories about the time in the choir school by an former member of the Holy Cross School Erste Veröffentlichung 1890 / First release 1890

Available at  Förderverein


Beat is Irrelevant, The (Guildford Cathedral Old Choristers Association 1996 )

Featuring Guildford Cathedral Choir  
Barry Rose and the early years of Guildford Cathedral Choir by Simon Carpenter. Account of how Barry Rose created one of the UK's great cathedral choirs from scratch in a short span of time. Behind-the-scenes of stories of how the original choristers were chosen, how they had to rehearse day and night practically, to get in shape in just a few months for the Cathedral's consecration in front of the Queen, and how the choir developed over the 17 years that Barry Rose was there. Includes a CD of the choir's early recordings.

Available at  Amazon UK


Best of Both Worlds, The: A Life of Sir William McKie (Sir William McKie Memorial Trust 1991 ISBN: 0-646-07003-7 )

by Howard Hollis. xii, 176 pages. The Australian organist Sir William KcKie (1901-1984) served at Westminster Abbey in London from 1941 to 1963.


Better Land, The: In Search of the Lost Boy Sopranos (Rectory Press 2005 )

Featuring Clifford Adams   Derek Barsham   Denis Barthel   The Better Land Series   John Bonner   Richard Bonsall   Alan Bradbrook   Master John Brookman   Richard Brown   Master Gordon Carter   Master (Arthur) Iwan Davies   Master Leslie Day   Robin Fairhurst   Frederick (John) Firth   Michael Ginn   John Gwilym Griffith(s)   Robert Harris   Michael Hartnett   Beverley Jones   Aled Jones   Raymond Kinsey   Harold Langston   Robin Lough   Ernest Lough   Thomas Meddings   Brian Moody   Billy Neely   Graham Payn   Robert Duncan Peel   Kenneth Purves   The Choir of the Queen's Chapel of the Savoy   Steffani and his Silver Songsters   Temple Church Choir   Thomas Tweedy   Denis Wright  
By Stephen Beet. Features much newly-discovered material, telling the often very human stories of the boys behind the voices, at the height of their singing careers and in their later lives. Copiously illustrated with many previously-unpublished photographs and manuscript samples, with a Foreword by Peter Purves.

As well as chapters on Iwan Davies, Derek Barsham, and Denis Wright, amongst others there are also chapters under the following headings: The Temple Boys, The Manchester Boys, The Music Hall Boys, The Fleeting Boys, and The Broadcast Boys.

This book is available directly from the author: Contact StephenRBeet@gmail.com Price £10 plus postage

This book is available for the cost of postage and packing only if the set of six The Better Land CD albums is ordered.

 Stephen Beet


Blessed City: The Life and Works of Edward C. Bairstow (William Sessions Ltd. 1993 ISBN: 1850721823 )

by Dr. Francis Jackson. xi, 336 pages, illus. 21 cm. Written by Bairstow (who was organist at York Minster 1913-46) and completed by his successor (to 1982) Jackson after his death.

Available at  Amazon UK
no cover
 Boys Forever: The History of the Canberra Boys Choir 1981-2006 ( 2006 )

Featuring Canberra Boys' Choir  
By Anne Claoué-Long. 52 p. Written for the 25th Anniversary celebration of the Canberra Boys' Choir.



Boys Who Did A-Singing Go: A Novel of the Moscow Boys Choir School (Fredonia Books (NL) 2001 ISBN: 1589630467 )

Featuring Moscow Boys Choir  
by Alexander Rekemchuk. 252 pages.

Available at  Amazon US


Boys' Choir: Voices of Angels (Shinshokan Publishing House 2004 )

Featuring All-American Boys' Chorus   The American Boychoir   Boys Air Choir   Drakensberg Boys Choir   Julius Linnert   Riga Dom Boys Choir   Thomanerchor Leipzig   Der Tölzer Knabenchor   Die Wiener Sängerknaben   Windsbacher Knabenchor  
112 pages. A rich collection of summaries of almost all major boychoirs all over the world: American Boychoir, All-American Boys Chorus, Die Wiener Sängerknaben, Tölzer Knabenchor, Riga Dom Boyschoir, several English cathedral choirs, Thomanerchor Leipzig, the State Moscow Chorus Arts Academy, Les Petits Chanteurs a la Croix de Bois, Regensburger Domspatzen, Cantores Minores, Boni Pueri, Dresdner Kreuzchor, Drakensberg boys' choir, Windsbacher Knabenchor, Libera, Boys Air Choir and more.

Also features the Vienna Boys Choir tour in Japan, various interview articles including the Associate Music Director of American Boychoir, Fernando Malvar-Ruiz and one of his trebles Morgan Bothwell ; Prof. G. Christof Biller the Thomanerchor cantor with one Thomaner treble named Julius Linnert, interwiews with WSK boys, plus an independent article of Edward Burrowes' visit to 'Les Petits Chanteurs de l'Ecole de l'Etoile du Matin', Tokyo.

More than 100 full-color pages. This book is entirely in Japanese.

Available at  Amazon Japan
Available at  Shinshokan Japan


Britten's Children, by John Bridcut (Faber & Faber 2006 ISBN: 0571228399 )

Featuring David Hemmings  
Britten’s Children confronts the edgy subject of the composer’s obsessional yet strangely innocent relationships with adolescent boys. One of the hallmarks of Benjamin Britten’s music is his use of boys’ voices, and John Bridcut uses this to create a fresh prism through which to view the composer’s life. Interweaving discussion of the music he wrote for and about children with interviews with the boys whom Britten befriended, Bridcut explores the influence of these unique friendships - notably with the late David Hemmings - and how they helped Britten maintain links with his own happy childhood.

Hardback 22 cm pp. 288 with 28 illustrations (including cover); paperback edition due June 2007
The documentary Britten’s Children won the Royal Philharmonic Society’s 2004 Award for Creative Communication.

Available at  MDT

no cover
 Cathedral Trilogy with Intermezzo (Cliffe Publications 1994 ISBN: 0952292912 )

Featuring Bristol Cathedral Choir   Westminster Cathedral Choir  
by Gregory C. Atkin. The View of a Former Cathedral Chorister of Choral Life in the Twentieth Century. Atkin throws a considerable amount of light on what was encountered by cathedral choristers and lay clerks at Bristol Cathedral and Westminster Cathedral in the middle of the twentieth century. The book is written from personal observations and experience in these establishments at that time.

Available at  Amazon UK


Century of Dreams, A (Trinity Boys Choir 2001 )

Featuring Trinity Boys Choir, Croydon  
by Walter Swan, 240 pages. Followup to "A Choir for All Seasons". A dedication Trinity Boys' 20-year legacy performing in productions of Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream.Lavishly illustrated with photographs, the book commemorates many of the 'century' of performances (125 in fact) in which the boys have featured.

Available at  Trinity School


Children of the Garter by Russell Thorndike (1937) (Rich & Cowan Ltd. 1937 )

Featuring The Choir of St. George's Chapel, Windsor   Russell Thorndike  
(Arthur) Russell Thorndike (1885-1972): "Children of the Garter. Being the Memoirs of a Windsor Castle Choir-Boy, during the last years of Queen Victoria." (London, 1937: Rich & Cowan Ltd. large 8vo pp. xi, 224. 24 photographic plates.)
The author was the Shakespearean actor & novelist brother of Dame Sybil Thorndike. This very readable account of his six years at Windsor is full of amusing anecdotes & affectionate pen portraits. The Master of the Queen's Music was Sir Walter Parrat & Thorndike illustrates his methods like this:
"What are you getting nervous for in that 'run'?" he would demand from a new boy. "There's nothing to fear about it. It's a good 'run' I assure you. It has stood the test of time, and is quite a famous 'run'. But it must be treated with a full control, and if you are going to be stupidly nervous, it shows that you are thinking about your silly self, instead of this capital piece of music, which is much more important than the feelings of a mere boy." For a piece of faulty singing we got no pity. It was a crime to let down composer or choir.


Choir for all Seasons, A (Creative Monochrome 1990 ISBN: 1873319002 )

Featuring Trinity Boys Choir, Croydon  
by Roger Maile, 95 pages. A photographic record of the life of the Trinity Boys Choir from 1980 to 1990. Features images of all the choirs major events in this period, taken by photographer Roger Maile. Also includes a brief commentary of events to accompany the photos. 94 pages, 87 b&w photgraphs.

Available at  Amazon UK


Choirs and Cloisters (Thames Publishing 1988 ISBN: 0905210514 )

Featuring Sheffield Cathedral Choir  
by Frederic Hodgson. 'Freddy' Hodgson was a chorister in Sheffield and later an alto lay clerk at Sheffield Cathedral; St. Michael's, Tenbury; Lichfield and Lincoln Cathedrals; St. George's Chapel, Windsor; and the Chapel Royal. The book contains many amusing anecdotes from his sixty years of singing.

Available at  Amazon UK


Choristers of St George's Chapel, The (Berkshire 1980 )

Featuring The Choir of St. George's Chapel, Windsor  
by Neville Wridgway.

no cover
 Come On Choristers! A history of the Chorister School, Durham ( 1999 ISBN: 0-9537524-0-2 )

Featuring Durham Cathedral Choir  
by Brian Crosby. iv, 92 pages, illus. 21 cm. Before his retirement Dr. Crosby taught at the Durham Chorister School for many years. His charming little book, 92 pages, recounts in lively prose the history of the Chorister School from its monastic roots until the present.

Available at  Amazon UK
Available at  Available from the author


Country Cathedral Organist Looks Back, A ( )

Featuring The Choir of Southwark Cathedral  
by David Gedge. Gedge paints vivid pictures of his life from 1939 to 1978, in post-World War II London, his life as chorister at Southwark Cathedral, his student days at the RAM, and his professional and personal life.



Der Bruder des Papstes (Herder-Verlag 2007 ISBN: 9783451296048 )

Featuring Regensburger Domspatzen  
Biographie von Georg Ratzinger, dem langjährigen Leiter der Regensburger Domspatzen.



Der Dresdner Kreuzchor (Evangelische Verlagsanstalt ISBN: ISBN 978-3-374-02402-5 )

Featuring Der Dresdner Kreuzchor  
Book about the history and present of the choir. 392 pages authors: Dieter Härtwig, Matthias Herrmann (both were members of the choir)

Available at  Evangelische Verlangsanstalt (Germany)


Die St. Florianer Sängerknaben (Trauner Verlag 2007 ISBN: 978-3-85499-244-8 )

Featuring St. Florianer Sängerknaben  
The book draws a picture of the choir in present and in history. Apart from a vast of information about the choir this book also includes many photos from the past until the time of its publication.

Available at  St. Florianer Sängerknaben Webshop
Available at  Amazon.de


Domkapellmeister, Der (Mittelbayerische Druck- und Verlagsgesellschaft 1994 ISBN: 3-927529-34-6 )

Featuring Regensburger Domspatzen  
Georg Ratzinger - ein Leben für die Regensburger Domspatzen, by Paul Winterer


Dresden Kreuzchor, The (Veb Edition Leipzig 1962 )

Featuring Der Dresdner Kreuzchor   Peter Schreier  
by Erna Hedwig Hofmann. 98pp 94 B&W Illustrations. Text in English - German title: capella sanctae crucis, Dresden und sein Kreuzchor, released at 1957 - History of the choir until about 1955


Dresdner Kreuzchor und Kreuzkirche: Eine Chronik vom 1206 bis heute (Husum 2004 ISBN: ISBN-10: 3898761800 )

Featuring Der Dresdner Kreuzchor   Peter Schreier  
Available at  amazon.co.uk
Available at  amazon.de


Dresdner Kreuzchor und Thomanerchor Leipzig (Marienberg 2007 ISBN: ISBN-10: 393177046X )

Featuring Der Dresdner Kreuzchor   Thomanerchor Leipzig  
: Zwei Kantoren und ihre Zeit - Rudolf und Erhard Mauersberger
This biographie is about the "Dresdner Kreuzchor" and the "Thomanerchor Leipzig" at the time of the brothers Erhard and Rudolph Mauersberger. They were both conductors and cantors. Rudolph Mauserberger for the "Dresdner Kreuzchor" 1930-1971, Erhard Mauersberger for the "Thomanerchor Leipzig" 1961-1972. Erhard was also a Thomaner himself.

Available at  Druckerei Marienberg
Available at  amazon.de
no cover
 Durham Cathedral Choristers and Their Masters (Durham, Dean & Chapter of 1980 ISBN: 0907078109 )

Featuring Durham Cathedral Choir  
By Brian Crosby. 48 pages

Available at  Amazon UK


George Thalben-Ball (David & Charles 1979 ISBN: 0-751-7863-5 )

Featuring Temple Church Choir  
by Jonathan Rennert. Another one of those well-intentioned books that fails to live up expectations. One gets the impression that the author was hampered in telling his tale by the limitations of writing about someone who still alive and well at the time of its publication. Either that or this is the antithesis of Howells' dictum about musicians and prose. The book does help to complete the Temple Church story, but from a literary point of view it reads a bit like the stock market page. Don't bother. — Review by S. Rhode


Glory to God: St Patrick's Cathedral Choir, 1939-1989 ( 1989 )

Featuring St. Patrick's Cathedral Choir, Melbourne  
Published history of the first fifty years of the present choir.

 Available at the Cathedral


Guest at Cambridge, A (Paraclete Press, Massachussetts 1994 ISBN: 1557250383 )

Featuring Choir of St. John's College, Cambridge  
Traces the outstanding career of Dr. George Guest, organist and choirmaster at St. John's College, Cambridge.

Available at  Amazon US
no cover
 History of King's College Choir School, A (Kings College Choir School 1981 ISBN: 0-9507528 0 0 )

Featuring King's College Choir, Cambridge  
by R.J. Henderson. Like the Crosby book ("Come On Choristers!"), R.J. Henderson researched and wrote his book from the perspective of a teacher at the school. Mr. Henderson still teaches at King's College Choir School. It's a good read for those interested in the history of education as it relates to a brilliant musical tradition. However, at £11.95 plus £6.60 p&h for a book that leaves the story of the last twenty years untold it probably is a bit pricey. — Review by S. Rhode


History of the Choir and Music of Trinity Church, New York, A (Gorham 1906 )

A History of the Choir and Music of Trinity Church, New York, From its Organization to the Year 1897 by A. H. Messiter (New York, 1906: Edward S. Gorham. 26 cm 324 pages 28 photographic portraits of choristers & organists.)
Arthur Henry Messiter (1834-1916) was organist at Trinity Church 1866-97. This Protestant Episcopal church in the heart of Manhattan was one of the first American churches to introduce a vested boys' choir. The first boy choristers were admitted in 1844, singing from the gallery, and then from Easter 1859 women were excluded and the choir moved to the chancel, adopting vestments the following year. The standard was such that within a short time solo boys were to be heard at concerts and theatres in New York and elsewhere. The first soprano soloist was W.J. Robjohn (later known as the composer Caryl Florio). Eminent concert singers in the 1860s included Richard Coker (b. 1852/3)(who toured Europe) and Theodore Toedt (b. 1853), the later tenor, who was the first singer to be designated "boy soprano" rather than chorister or the more archaic singing-boy. This history of the choir and its music, by an Englishman who emigrated in 1863 bringing the English cathedral tradition with him, is recommended to anyone interested in the development of choral music in America.


History of the Vienna Boys Choir, A (Book Guild, Lewes 1998 ISBN: 1-85776-351-3 )

Featuring Die Wiener Sängerknaben  
by Kim Lorenz. The Vienna Boys' Choir is renowned throughout the world. Less well-known are the struggles to reorganise the Choir after World War I, the problems of accommodation, payment and travel, the Choir's difficulties during the Nazi occupation of Austria and World War II. The book is out of print, but I have author's copies available. Contact me at kimklorenz@gmail.com

Available at  Amazon UK


Jubilate - The Story of a Choir School ( 2006 )

Featuring ChristChurch Cathedral Choir, New Zealand  
by Roger Couper. The Cathedral Grammar School is unique among the Independent Schools of New Zealand, because it is a Choir School in the tradition of the English Cathedral Choir Schools. The history of the School cannot be written without tracing the history of the Choir and its Choristers as well. The School opened its doors six months before the opening of the Cathedral, to train the first Choristers ready for the occasion.

This is the story of the people who have brought the School from its foundation in 1881 to the present day (2006): the pupils, the choristers, the headmasters, and teachers, the parents, the men and women of the boards and the Cathedral authorities. It is an impressive story of 125 years of dedication, faith and loyalty to the vision of the founders.

Available at  ChristChurch Cathedral Shop


Jubiläumsbuch 50 Jahre (1946-1996) ( 1996 )

Featuring Wiltener Sängerknaben  


Justin Bieber: Just Getting Started (HarperCollins 2012 ISBN: 0007449526 )

Featuring Justin Bieber  
Pre-order now! set to be released September 13, 2012 Get your backstage pass at the ready as you go behind the scenes with Justin Bieber, in his brand new book – 100% official – and discover what life is really like as the world’s hottest pop star! Justin Bieber has come a long way from being your average school kid, busking on the streets of the small town of Ontario, Canada. And he wouldn’t be where he is today without his legion of loyal Beliebers – who have been with him every step of the way on this incredible journey. Now Justin wants to give something back to you, his very special fan – a VIP backstage peek at life behind the scenes, in his incredible new book. Starting from the first night of his debut world tour, Justin invites you to follow him on his rollercoaster ride to superstardom – as he visits the far corners of the globe, makes his very own movie, records his new album, wins numerous awards and pens a bestselling book, to name just a few of the amazing feats he’s achieved over the past few years. Justin Bieber: Just Getting Started is an exclusive peek inside Justin’s phenomenal world. You’ll share in the highs and lows of life on the road, reading Justin’s innermost thoughts and feelings as he navigates life in the limelight. You’ll hang out with him on the tour bus, and will share in the laughter as he pulls pranks on his crew! Jam packed full of unseen and exclusive photos taken especially for the book, plus behind-the-scenes gossip, this is the only official book for Justin’s true fans.

Available at  Amazon.com
Available at  harpercollinschildrens.com
Available at  Amazon.co.uk


King's College Choir Book, The (Phillimore & Co. 1997 ISBN: 1 86077 052 5 )

Featuring King's College Choir, Cambridge  
by Jonathan Rippon and Penny Cleobury. The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, is world-famous. Through radio, television and recordings its unique sound has been heard in countless homes on every continent. When King Henry VI founded the College Chapel in 1446, the statutes provided for six clerks (singing men) and 16 choristers. Who could have foreseen that the Chapel would become one of the architectural glories; or that its Choir would be singing to many thousands of visitors each year? 96 pp., 107 colour & b/w Illustrations.

Available at  Phillimore UK


Knabenchor - Last, Glück, Lebenschance? (Wißner 2012 ISBN: 3896398458 )

Featuring Windsbacher Knabenchor  
Eine Untersuchung am Beispiel des Windsbacher Knabenchors. Knabenchöre gehören zu den Glanzstücken der Musikkultur. Aber gerade in jüngster Zeit tauchten mit großem Medienecho Vorwürfe auf, die glänzenden Erfolge seien oft mit pädagogisch bedenklichen Methoden erkauft worden. Von Missbrauch und Misshandlungen war die Rede. Die Autoren Max Liedtke und Horant Schulz haben diese keineswegs neuen Vorwürfe am Beispiel des Windsbacher Knabenchores aufgegriffen und in umfassenden Untersuchungen alle noch erreichbaren ehemaligen Sänger der Abschlussjahrgänge 1947-2010 nach deren Erfahrungen und Einschätzungen befragt. Hauptziel der Befragung war herauszufinden, was es nach Meinung der ehemaligen Choristen denn in der Summe für ihr Leben gebracht habe, im Chor mitgesungen zu haben. Das Resümee dieser umfänglichen Befragungen wird hier vorgelegt. Ohne Zweifel, es hat problematische Formen von Erziehung gegeben. Bis in die 1970er-Jahre gab es, wie in der gesamten christlich-europäischen Tradition, auch körperliche Züchtigungen, die aus heutiger Sicht als Misshandlungen anzusehen sind. Kritik ist berechtigt und erforderlich. Aber aus allen Phasen der Chorgeschichte berichtet die weit überwiegende Mehrheit der Choristen nach Abwägen der Vor- und Nachteile von ungeheuren Gewinnen, die sie aus den Chorerfahrungen geschöpft haben - Gewinne, die auf anderen Wegen kaum zu erlangen gewesen wären. So konnte über die Chorerfahrungen Musik geradezu auch "ein Schlüssel zum Leben" werden, wie es einer der Befragten zugespitzt formuliert hat.

Available at  amazon


Knabenchor Hannover, Der ( 2000 ISBN: 3-89384-040-0 )

Featuring Knabenchor Hannover  
by Burkhard Wetekam.

Available at  Amazon.de

Livre
 		La Maîtrise Fribourg (Société des Amis de la Maîtrise de Fribourg 2001 )

Featuring Maîtrise de Fribourg  
Le livre du 25ème anniversaire.


La vie rêvée de Jérémy (Presses de la Renaissance 2007 ISBN: 978-2-7509-0347-3 )

Featuring Jérémy Gabriel  
Ouvrage réalisé sous la direction éditoriale d'Alain Noël, avec la collaboration de Pierre Chébli.


Leipzig Thomaner Chor, The (Veb Edition Leipzig 1962 )

Featuring Thomanerchor Leipzig  
by Richard Petzoldt. 96pp. 72 B&W Illustrations. Text in English.

Available at  Amazon.com

Les Petits Chanteurs À La Croix De Bois À Coeur Ouvert
 		Les Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois à Coeur Ouvert (Solar Editeur 1971 )

Featuring Les Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois  
Roger Debaye

Available at  PriceMinister

L'histoire des 100 ans de la Manécanterie
 		Les petits chanteurs à la croix de bois, les 100 ans de la Manécanterie. (RYM Edition 2007 )

Featuring Les Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois  
144 pages et autant de photos pour découvrir les 100 ans de vie de la manécanterie. Présenté par Jean Rolland, un amis de la "Mané" et auteur de 10 romans pour la jeunesse.

Available at  PriceMinister
Review at  Le site de l'auteur Jean ROLLAND


Les Petits Chanteurs de Touraine à travers 50 ans d'histoire (Editions Hugues de Chivré 2009 ISBN: Abbé Bernard Tartu )

Featuring Les Petits Chanteurs de Touraine  
Par l'Abbé Bernard Tartu. Editions Hugues de Chivré. Parution le 18 octobre 2009


Libera Visions (Chopin Publishing House 2005 ISBN: 4883642046 )

Featuring Libera / Angel Voices  
The first Libera photo book released in Japan (pp.60) to coincide with the release of the Visions CD and their tour of Japan in October 2005.

Available at  HMV Japan
Available at  Amazon japan


Lift Every Voice: Expecting the Most and Getting the Best from All of God's Children (Hyperion 1997 ISBN: 0786881976 )

Featuring Boys Choir of Harlem  
by Walter Turnbull, Howard Manly, Laurie Abkemeier (Editor). The founder and director of the Boys Choir of Harlem traces his life from his impoverished childhood in Mississippi to his creation of his world-famous choir, and shares the methods behind his enormous success with black youth.

Available at  Amazon US


Little Stevie Wonder by Quincy Troupe (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children 2005 ISBN: 0618340602 )

Featuring Little Stevie Wonder  
A children's biography of the Motown icon told in poetry.


London Choir School - An Anthology (Lulu 2008 )

By Michael Norris. 281 pages. A Collection of memoirs from pupils of the famous London Choir School between the 1920's and the 1950's. The memoirs reflect a way of school life that would be unrecognizable by today's standards particularly since the school continued to supply church choirs all through the London Blitz when most other choirs had been evacuated from the capital.281 pages with over 70 photographs.

Available at  Lulu


Master Joe Petersen - The Phenomenal Boy Singer and Legendary Scottish Variety and Recording Star (FWM Publishing 1994 )

Featuring Master Joe Petersen  
By Franck Wappat. The incredible story of Mary O'Rourke, aka Master Joe Petersen, plus full discography of all known recordings under various names. Illus. 94pp.


Monseigneur Maillet et les Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois (Le Cerf 2001 ISBN: 2204068160 )

Featuring Les Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois  
by Jean Rolland, 150 pages. This newly-published book tells Msgr. Maillet's own story, from his childhood, his own inspiration from greek theatre, his beginning experience of teaching children, etc. and includes historic photos.

 Le site de l'auteur Jean ROLLAND
 Le site de l'auteur Jean ROLLAND
Available at  PriceMinister
Available at  Amazon.fr


Musikalische Sonntagskinder ( )

Featuring Augsburger Domsingknaben  
by Franz R. Miller.



My Life with Noel Coward (Applause Books 2000 ISBN: 1557832471 )

Featuring Graham Payn  
by Graham Payn, 320 pages. Boy soprano Graham Payn first met Noel Coward at age 13, when he auditioned for the playwright by tap dancing while singing "Nearer My God to Thee."

Available at  Amazon US
no cover
 New College Brats (Private (New College School) 1996 )

Featuring The Choir of New College, Oxford  
by Jonathan Edmunds. A history of the life and education of the Choristers of New College.


Ouseley and His Angels: The Life of St. Michael's College, Tenbury and its Founder (D.L. Bland Publishing 2000 ISBN: 0953870200 )

Featuring St. Michael's College Choir, Tenbury  
by David Bland. 335 pages. Frederick Ouseley was a child prodigy, sometimes referred to as "the English Mozart". As well as being the founder and first warden of the College, he also held posts of Oxford Professor of Music and Precentor of Hereford for more than 30 years.ORDER FORMS FOR THIS BOOK CAN BE OBTAINED FROM DAVID BLAND ON (0044) 01584 711529 OR 07773 642703

Available at  Amazon UK


Perfect Harmony (Jump at the Sun 2002 ISBN: 0786826088 )

Featuring Boys Choir of Harlem  
by Charles R. Smith. About the Boys Choir of Harlem

Available at  Book Closeouts


Peter Schreier - Melodien eines Lebens: Eine Bildbiografie (Verlag der Kunst Dresden 2008 )

Featuring Der Dresdner Kreuzchor   Peter Schreier  
Author: Jürgen Helfrich, Biography about Peter Schreier from his time as a Boy Soloist with the Dresdner Kreuzchor until his international success in Opera Houses and stages.

Available at  amazon.de


Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois, Les - Souvenirs et Anecdotes (Flammarion 1946 )

Featuring Les Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois  
by Msgr. Abbe Maillet. 208pp. This first of two volumes was written episode by episode, based on the choir's tour from America in 1931 to Post-war Germany and Africa. Contains several historical photographs which reflect a golden age and world-wide reputation of the choir.

 Price Minister
Available at  Amazon.fr


Petits Chanteurs d'hier et d'aujourd'hui, Les (Flammarion 1948 )

Featuring Les Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois  
by Msgr. Abbe Maillet. 279pp. The second of two volumes tells the story of the foundation of Les Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois and its boy soloists which marked their golden period.

 Price Minister
Available at  Amazon.fr
no cover
 Petits Chanteurs des Rues. Ronde de F. de Courcy, Les ( )

by Charles Henri Plantade. [Questionable title and choir.]


Pilgrimage of Song, A: The Times and Chimes of the St Mary-of-the-Angels Song School 1919 to 1972 (Faith Press 1972 ISBN: 0716402351 )

Featuring St. Mary-of-the-Angels Song School  
by Revd. Desmond Morse-Boycott. 104 pages. Largely photographic account.

Available at  Amazon UK


Regensburger Domspatzen, Die (Mittelbayerische Druckerei- und Verlags-Gesellschaft 1989 ISBN: 3-921114-72-1 )

Featuring Regensburger Domspatzen  
by Paul Winterer


Road to Augarten Palace (Chopin 2002 ISBN: 4883641554 )

Featuring Die Wiener Sängerknaben  
Available at  Amazon.co.jp


Sängerknaben vom Wienerwald (St.Gabriel 1971 )

Featuring Sängerknaben vom Wienerwald  
50 Years, Vienna Wood's Boys Choir, 1921-1971. By Pater Franz Göhr SVD. 128 pages. For their 50th anniversary, Pater Franz Goehr SVD compiled a book of pictures with many rare pieces from the years of the beginning into the year 1971. Information about the first steps of the "Vienna Wood's Boys Choir", about concerts and journeys. Short reports from journeys from singer boys, who had been active at that time, give a glimpse behind the curtain of a choirboy's life.



Sangskolen (Selskabet Københavns Drengekors Venner 1998 )

Featuring Københavns Drengekor  
Available at  Sangskolen


Sarum Close (Jonathan Cape, London 1938 )

Featuring Salisbury Cathedral Choir  
by Dora H. Robertson. 2nd Ed. Firecrest Publishing, Bath 1969.
Gem of a book that retells the 700 year history of the choristers of Salisbury Cathedral. Dora Robertson, the wife of the headmaster at the time of publication, must have be a tireless researcher for the book is a tome of facts and antidotal information all woven together to create a monumental historical tapestry.
no cover
 Sing As You Go - Amy Ferguson and the Nelson Boys Choir (Woolsock Press 2002 )

Featuring Nelson Boys Choir  
by Helen Ferguson Poisson (Feb. 14, 1911-Mar. 14, 2008). Helen was the daughter of Reverend TJS and Amy Ferguson.


Spiritual Song: The Story of the Temple Choir and a History of Divine Service in the Temple Church (The Templars Union (London) 1961 )

Featuring Temple Church Choir  
by David (James) Lewer (d.2005). 504 pages, 22 cm, illus. incl. map & plans of the Temple Church. Mr. Lewer, a chorister of the Temple Church 1931-33 under Sir Walford, traces the Temple Church from its roots through the Thalben-Ball years with special attention given to Hopkins, Davies, and Thalben-Ball. In many respects it is the most thought-provoking and moving book about the English choral tradition in my library, but I'll save my superlatives for another day — Review by S. Rhode.

Copies of this rare book may be available from StephenRBeet@gmail.com Price upon application. Please ask for condition report.


Tapestry of Toil, A (Faith Press 1970 )

Featuring St. Mary-of-the-Angels Song School  
by Desmond Morse-Boycott.

Available at  Amazon UK


Thomaner, Die (Union Verlag, Berlin 1985 )

Featuring Thomanerchor Leipzig  
by Wolfgang Hanke. 277pp.



Tölzer Knabenchor - Ein Lebenswerk (Helga Schmidt-Gaden 2006 )

Featuring Der Tölzer Knabenchor  
...to thank and honor Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden. This book was published by Helga Schmidt-Gaden in a limited edition of only 2500 books!


Vienna Choir Boys (Edition Wien 1987 ISBN: ISBN 3-85058-013-X )

Featuring Die Wiener Sängerknaben  
by Franz Endler, photographs by Fritz Simak, translated by Stephen Temmer. Illustrations: 5 sketchs, 56 B&W, 16 color.

Available at  Amazon.com


Westminster Abbey : 1000 Years of Music and Pageant (Evolution Electronics 2003 ISBN: 0954417615 )

Featuring The Westminster Abbey Choir  
by James Wilkinson. 160 pp. (almost all with full color illustrations) 9-track CD, 7 recorded specificaly for this book. Tells the history in a fascinating and most readable wayof one of the greatest monuments to British spiritual life.

Available at  Amazon UK


Westminster Abbey Singers, The (Dennis Dobson, London 1953 )

Featuring The Westminster Abbey Choir  
by Edward Pine. 270pp. The Story of the Westminster Abbey Choir School.



Whatshisname: The Life and Death of Charles Hawtrey (Tomahawk Press 2010 ISBN: 0955767075 )

Featuring Charles Hawtrey  
Available at  Amazon UK


Wiener Sängerknaben (Gebundene Ausgabe - Np Buchverlag 2004 ISBN: 3853263356 )

Featuring Die Wiener Sängerknaben  
by Lukas Beck, Tina Breckwoldt. 176 pp.

Available at  Amazon.de


Wiener Sängerknaben (Edition Wien 1987 ISBN: ISBN 3-85058-008-3 )

Featuring Die Wiener Sängerknaben  
by Franz Endler, photographs by Fritz Simak. Illustrations: 5 sketchs, 56 B&W, 16 color.

Available at  Amazon.de


Wiener Sängerknaben, Die (Residenz Verlag 1974 ISBN: B000JL3FYS )

Featuring Die Wiener Sängerknaben  
by Franz Endler and Fred Peer. 151 pages. Illustrations: 11 sketchs, 54 B&W, 16 color. Also included 45rpm: Side A "Una hora", Side B "Kein schöner land in dieser zeit".


Wiener Sängerknaben, Die (Verlag Anton Pustet, Salzburg 1968 )

Featuring Die Wiener Sängerknaben  
by Alexander Witeschnik. 117pp Illustrations: 72 B&W 3 Colour. Also included 45rpm EP record. Text in Deutsch



Windsbacher Knabenchor , Der (Wißner-Verlag 1994 ISBN: 3896390228 )

Featuring Windsbacher Knabenchor  
by Max Liedtke. Gebundene Ausgabe 288 Pages. Magnificent anniversary publication for the 50th aniversary of the Windsbacher Knabenchor with large format.

Available at  Amazon.de
no cover
 Zechariah Buck. . . A Centenary Memoir (Jarrold & Sons 1899 )

Featuring Norwich Cathedral Choir  
by Frederic G. Kitton. London. Dr Buck was a chorister, then organist & choirmaster at Norwich Cathedral for seventy years from 1807 to 1877. This fascinating memoir includes anecdotes such as him giving soloists phials of port wine to imbibe before singing and shutting a boy in a dark cupboard so that he could realize the meaning of "Without Thee, all is dark" in Mendelssohn's "Hear my prayer". (The ungrateful urchin replied to his enqiry: "Please sir, No sir; there's a crack in the door!") There is also a description of how he developed the head register by getting boys to practice with the mouth shut. One observer commented: "It is wonderful how much higher some pupils can sing with the mouth shut; one boy who could not sing well above F sharp with the natural voice, reached up to C with closed mouth." (This is reminiscent of Emma Calve's achieving piano high notes, maintained for a surprising length of time, by following advice from the Turkish castrato Domenico Mustafa to practice with her mouth tight shut for two hours a day.) Dr Buck was held in such high regard that he provided Norwich choristers to sing the solo parts in the "St Matthew Passion" at Westminster Abbey in 1872. Long out of print. — Review by Brian Pearson

 Extracts with photographs at Cathedral Music Links



Search for 'Petits Chanteurs' and 'Knabenchor' at AbeBooks.co.uk

Copyright © 2013 The Boy Choir & Soloist Directory