2011-02-28 15:46:02

Of heavenly song and British discipline


Plain chant, red robes and Latin: not something that springs instantly to mind when thinking of today’s teenagers. But Roman audiences were enchanted recently by the musical discipline and pitch perfect performances of a group of young British boys who take great pride in their tradition of choral singing, treating congregations at the English College and Sant'Eustachio to renditions of works by Monteverdi, Dupre and Balfour Gardiner.

Founded in 1980, the Schola Cantorum of the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School has risen to become one of Britain’s leading liturgical choirs. Comprising an average of 40 boys ranging in age from 11 to 18, they have preformed at the BBC proms, on film soundtracks and, more recently, in St Peter’s Basilica as part of their Roman Tour.

“The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School is particularly renowned for its musical excellence, and the main job of the choir is to sing for all of the school’s liturgies, so this means that all of our music is liturgical”, says choir director Charles Cole. As Pope Benedict XVI said, beautiful music, beautifully sung can be one of the highest forms of prayer: Listen: RealAudioMP3








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