Winchester College Chapel Choir
Encyclopedia
Winchester College Chapel Choir is a renowned British choir
that sings in the Chapel of Winchester College
. When William of Wykeham
founded Winchester College in 1382 he made provision for 16 boys called Quiristers to sing the Chapel services. The College has maintained its medieval choral foundation ever since and the choral tradition is still maintained at a high level.
line for the choir, are all awarded choral scholarships at The Pilgrims' School
, close to the college itself. They also sing a good deal in their own right as a boys' concert choir. The lower parts in the Choir are sung by senior pupils, many of whom have themselves been Quiristers, or choristers at cathedrals and other choral foundations.
The choir sings regular services, including evensong
, Sunday mattins
or communion
, as well as at special College events. The Choir gives recitals, broadcasts and records for BBC radio
and television, and makes regular tours abroad, most recently to USA .and Hong Kong. The Quiristers' programme includes several concerts each year in aid of local and national charities. Past Quiristers have been particularly successful in the BBC Young Chorister of the Year Competition, winning the title in 2001, 2003 and 2004. The choir robes in full red cassocks and white surplices.
The choir sang choral evensong live on BBC Radio 3
on Wednesday 15 December 2010.
, who moved from St. Paul's Cathedral in September 2007 to undertake the post. Previous directors include Christopher Tolley (1992–2007), Julian Smith (1977–1992) and Raymond Humphrey (1970–1977).
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
that sings in the Chapel of Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
. When William of Wykeham
William of Wykeham
William of Wykeham was Bishop of Winchester, Chancellor of England, founder of Winchester College, New College, Oxford, New College School, Oxford, and builder of a large part of Windsor Castle.-Life:...
founded Winchester College in 1382 he made provision for 16 boys called Quiristers to sing the Chapel services. The College has maintained its medieval choral foundation ever since and the choral tradition is still maintained at a high level.
Choir
The Quiristers, or "Qs" are they are colloquially known, who sing the trebleBoy soprano
A boy soprano is a young male singer with an unchanged voice in the soprano range. Although a treble, or choirboy, may also be considered to be a boy soprano, the more colloquial term boy soprano is generally only used for boys who sing, perform, or record as soloists, and who may not necessarily...
line for the choir, are all awarded choral scholarships at The Pilgrims' School
The Pilgrims' School
The Pilgrims' School, Winchester, is a boys' preparatory school - with a co-ed pre-prep extension - in the Cathedral Close in Winchester, Hampshire - an ancient capital of England. The school is famous for The Pilgrims' Hall, which contains England's oldest surviving wood double hammer-beamed roof,...
, close to the college itself. They also sing a good deal in their own right as a boys' concert choir. The lower parts in the Choir are sung by senior pupils, many of whom have themselves been Quiristers, or choristers at cathedrals and other choral foundations.
The choir sings regular services, including evensong
Evensong
The term evensong can refer to the following:* Evening Prayer , the Anglican liturgy of Evening Prayer, especially so called when it is sung...
, Sunday mattins
Matins
Matins is the early morning or night prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox liturgies of the canonical hours. The term is also used in some Protestant denominations to describe morning services.The name "Matins" originally referred to the morning office also...
or communion
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
, as well as at special College events. The Choir gives recitals, broadcasts and records for BBC radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
and television, and makes regular tours abroad, most recently to USA .and Hong Kong. The Quiristers' programme includes several concerts each year in aid of local and national charities. Past Quiristers have been particularly successful in the BBC Young Chorister of the Year Competition, winning the title in 2001, 2003 and 2004. The choir robes in full red cassocks and white surplices.
The choir sang choral evensong live on BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
on Wednesday 15 December 2010.
Director
The Director of Chapel Music and Organist at Winchester College is Malcolm ArcherMalcolm Archer
Malcolm Archer is an English organist, conductor and composer. He combines this work with a recital career. Archer was formerly Organist and Director of Music at St Paul's Cathedral, and is now Director of Chapel Music at Winchester College....
, who moved from St. Paul's Cathedral in September 2007 to undertake the post. Previous directors include Christopher Tolley (1992–2007), Julian Smith (1977–1992) and Raymond Humphrey (1970–1977).