Aachener Domchor (Aachen Cathedral choir) is the oldest boys' choir in Germany and one of the oldest in the world. It is based at the Aachen Cathedral in Aachen, a former capital of the

Carolingian Empire The Carolingian Empire (800–887) was a Franks, Frankish-dominated empire in Western and Central Europe during the Early Middle Ages. It was ruled by the Carolingian dynasty, which had ruled as List of Frankish kings, kings of the Franks since ...

. The year 782 is given for its founding by

Charlemagne Charlemagne ( ; 2 April 748 – 28 January 814) was List of Frankish kings, King of the Franks from 768, List of kings of the Lombards, King of the Lombards from 774, and Holy Roman Emperor, Emperor of what is now known as the Carolingian ...

and Alcuin of York. Under a succession of directors, the choir gained an international reputation, benefiting from an associated school. Since 2000, the Domchor has been directed by Berthold Botzet.

History

The Aachener Domchor is the oldest boys'

choir A choir ( ), also known as a chorale or chorus (from Latin ''chorus'', meaning 'a dance in a circle') is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform or in other words ...

in Germany and one of the oldest in the world. It is based at the Aachen Cathedral in Aachen, a former capital of the

. The choir is sometimes also identified using its

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

name, ''Cappella Carolina''. The choir dates back more than 1200 years, with the year 782 given for its founding. It served church music at the cathedral for the court of

. The choir school (''schola cantorum'') was founded by the emperor and Alcuin of York, and was known then as the ''Schola Palatina'', the " Palatinate Choir". Under a succession of '' Kapellmeister'' (''choir directors'', literally: "chapel masters"), the Aachener Domchor gained an international reputation, benefiting musically and in terms of support from important individuals from close collaboration with the medieval

monastic school Monastic schools () were, along with cathedral schools, the most important institutions of higher learning in the Latin West#Use with regard to Christianity, Latin West from the early Middle Ages until the 12th century. Since Cassiodorus's educatio ...

, today the Aachen Cathedral Choir School (), and also from cooperation with the , founded in 1881, and the first school for organists in western Germany with boarding facilities (closed 2007). Since 2000, the Domchor has been directed by . Botzet is assisted by the cathedral cantor, who is also in charge of the girls' choir at Aachen Cathedral: Marco Fühner was appointed to this post in July 2013. The choir tours internationally, and has collaborated with other boys' choirs and youth choirs in Europe. It was awarded the Kaiser Karl IV Medal, an Aachen cultural prize, in 2013, together with the youth choir Svonky from Prague.

Kapellmeister

Leading directors of the music in stift and cathedral ('' kapellmeister'') have included: * 16th century: Johannes Mangon (1525–1578) (cantor and Stiftskapellmeister) * 1745–1772 Anton Joseph Lacand * 1835–1840 Anton Felix Schindler (municipal music director * 1864–1891 (from 1881 director of the Gregoriushaus) * 1891–1913 * 1913–1918 * 1918–1924 Leo Wachten * 1924–1963 (1945–1946 interim municipal

Generalmusikdirektor A music director, musical director or director of music is a person responsible for the musical aspects of a performance, production, or organization. This would include the artistic director and usually chief conductor of an orchestra or concert ...

(GMD)) * 1964–1986 Rudolf Pohl * 1986–2000 * from 2000 Berthold Botzet

References

External links

* {{Authority control German choirs Choirs of children Boys' and men's choirs Musical groups established in the 9th century Aachen Cathedral German church music Church choirs

History

Kapellmeister

References

Further reading

External links