Child of chorus

A child of chorus is a child who intervenes in certain ceremonies of the Catholic church (to take part in the processions, to serve the mass in particular). Like all the services of the chorus, these functions are reserved to the boys. Since the reforms which followed the Vatican II a tolerance was granted so that girls can ensure this service. “The girls or the women can be allowed with this service of the furnace bridge, with the judgment of the bishop diocesan; in this case, it is necessary to follow the established standards on this subject (note 122)” liturgical standards (2004)

They are called also " being used as autels" but also " large clercs" when those are larger.

In France, until the Revolution, the children of chorus played a specific part in the hymn and more generally the music. Entered in the 7 year old neighborhoods a school, the psallette (also called " control "), they were placed sour the direction of the Master of psallette which apprenaît the technique of the song and the principles of the music to them. They could be also initiated with the practice of an instrument. Their presence was essential to sing the parts of soprano, the feminine voices being then prohibited in the churches. At the age of the moult, they left the " service of the chœur" to regain the civil life. Some of them could choose to remain with the church, others, undoubtedly the majority, learned a trade without any connection with their lived from child of chorus. These psallettes will disappear in 1789-1790 with the confiscation and the sale from the goods from the clergy.