The Vienna Boys' Choir (also the Vienna Choir Boys, German: Wiener Sängerkn… Read Full Bio ↴The Vienna Boys' Choir (also the Vienna Choir Boys, German: Wiener Sängerknaben) is a choir of trebles and altos based in Vienna. It is one of the best known boys' choirs in the world. The boys are selected mainly from Austria, but also from many other countries around the world, and individually interviewed.
Over the centuries, the choir has worked with many composers including Mozart, Caldara, Salieri, Heinrich Isaac, Hofhaimer, Biber, Fux, Gluck, and Bruckner.
History
The choir is the modern-day descendant of the boys' choirs from the Viennese Court, dating back to the late Middle Ages. The choir was, for practical purposes, established by a letter written by Maximilian I of Habsburg on 7 July 1498. In the letter the Emperor instructed court officials to employ a singing master, two basses and six boys. Jurij Slatkonja became the director of the ensemble.
The role of the choir (numbering between fourteen and twenty) was to provide musical accompaniment to the church mass. The boys received a solid musical education, which in most cases had a significant impact on the rest of their lives, as many went on to become professional musicians. The composers Jacobus Gallus, Franz Schubert, and the conductors Hans Richter, Felix Mottl and Clemens Krauss were members of the choir. The Haydn brothers were members of the St. Stephen's Cathedral choir, directed at the time by Georg Reutter II who used this choir in his duties for the imperial court which at the time had no boy choristers of its own.
In 1920 the Hofkapelle (court musicians) was disbanded. However, the rector at the time, Josef Schnitt, sought a continuation of the tradition. In 1924 the "Vienna Boys' Choir" was officially founded and has evolved into a professional music group. Since 1948 the Palais Augarten has served as their rehearsal venue and boarding school which goes from kindergarten level up to middle school level. The choir adopted its now-famous blue and white sailor suits, replacing the imperial military cadet uniforms that included a dagger. The composer HK Gruber is one of the graduates of the reformed choir.
The choir is a private, not-for-profit organization. There are approximately 100 choristers between the ages of ten and fourteen. The boys are divided into four touring choirs, named for Bruckner, Haydn, Mozart and Schubert, which perform about 300 concerts each year in front of almost 500,000 people. Each group tours for about nine to eleven weeks.
After Dr. Eugen Jesser died in May 2008, Walter Nettig became the choir's president and Franz Schlosser its director. Gerald Wirth became the choir's artistic director in 2001.
Since the turn of the 21st century, the choir has come under pressure to modernise and has faced criticism of their musical standards leading to a split with the Vienna State Opera. The choir has for the first time had to advertise for recruits after a rival choir school was established by Ioan Holender, director of the opera company. He complained of both falling standards and of poor communication with the choir. He said that the State Opera sometimes trained boys for particular stage roles only to find out on the day of performance that they were unavailable as they had gone on tour with the choir. Some boys were attracted to the rival choir school by the prospect of a more relaxed atmosphere and of performance fees being paid directly to them.[4] The Vienna Boys Choir has sought to update its image, recording pop music selections and adopting an alternative uniform to the sailor suits used since the 1920s, allowing the boys to dance as they sing.
Selected discography
Christmas
* Wiener Sängerknaben Goes Christmas (2003)
* Frohe Weihnacht (Merry Christmas) (1999)
* Christmas in Vienna / Heiligste Nacht (1990)
* The Little Drummer Boy (1990)
* Merry Christmas from the Vienna Choir Boys (1982)
* Christmas with the Vienna Choir Boys (with Hermann Prey)
* Christmas with the Vienna Boys' Choir, London Symphony Orchestra (1990)
* Weihnacht mit den Wiener Sängerknaben (Gillesberger 1980)
* Die Wiener Sängerknaben und ihre Schönsten ... (1967)
* Frohe Weihnacht (1960)
* Christmas Angels (RCA Gold Seal)
Pop music
* I Am from Austria (2006)
* Wiener Sängerknaben Goes Pop (2002)
Other recordings
* Orff: Carmina Burana (with Andre Previn and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra) (1994)
Over the centuries, the choir has worked with many composers including Mozart, Caldara, Salieri, Heinrich Isaac, Hofhaimer, Biber, Fux, Gluck, and Bruckner.
History
The choir is the modern-day descendant of the boys' choirs from the Viennese Court, dating back to the late Middle Ages. The choir was, for practical purposes, established by a letter written by Maximilian I of Habsburg on 7 July 1498. In the letter the Emperor instructed court officials to employ a singing master, two basses and six boys. Jurij Slatkonja became the director of the ensemble.
The role of the choir (numbering between fourteen and twenty) was to provide musical accompaniment to the church mass. The boys received a solid musical education, which in most cases had a significant impact on the rest of their lives, as many went on to become professional musicians. The composers Jacobus Gallus, Franz Schubert, and the conductors Hans Richter, Felix Mottl and Clemens Krauss were members of the choir. The Haydn brothers were members of the St. Stephen's Cathedral choir, directed at the time by Georg Reutter II who used this choir in his duties for the imperial court which at the time had no boy choristers of its own.
In 1920 the Hofkapelle (court musicians) was disbanded. However, the rector at the time, Josef Schnitt, sought a continuation of the tradition. In 1924 the "Vienna Boys' Choir" was officially founded and has evolved into a professional music group. Since 1948 the Palais Augarten has served as their rehearsal venue and boarding school which goes from kindergarten level up to middle school level. The choir adopted its now-famous blue and white sailor suits, replacing the imperial military cadet uniforms that included a dagger. The composer HK Gruber is one of the graduates of the reformed choir.
The choir is a private, not-for-profit organization. There are approximately 100 choristers between the ages of ten and fourteen. The boys are divided into four touring choirs, named for Bruckner, Haydn, Mozart and Schubert, which perform about 300 concerts each year in front of almost 500,000 people. Each group tours for about nine to eleven weeks.
After Dr. Eugen Jesser died in May 2008, Walter Nettig became the choir's president and Franz Schlosser its director. Gerald Wirth became the choir's artistic director in 2001.
Since the turn of the 21st century, the choir has come under pressure to modernise and has faced criticism of their musical standards leading to a split with the Vienna State Opera. The choir has for the first time had to advertise for recruits after a rival choir school was established by Ioan Holender, director of the opera company. He complained of both falling standards and of poor communication with the choir. He said that the State Opera sometimes trained boys for particular stage roles only to find out on the day of performance that they were unavailable as they had gone on tour with the choir. Some boys were attracted to the rival choir school by the prospect of a more relaxed atmosphere and of performance fees being paid directly to them.[4] The Vienna Boys Choir has sought to update its image, recording pop music selections and adopting an alternative uniform to the sailor suits used since the 1920s, allowing the boys to dance as they sing.
Selected discography
Christmas
* Wiener Sängerknaben Goes Christmas (2003)
* Frohe Weihnacht (Merry Christmas) (1999)
* Christmas in Vienna / Heiligste Nacht (1990)
* The Little Drummer Boy (1990)
* Merry Christmas from the Vienna Choir Boys (1982)
* Christmas with the Vienna Choir Boys (with Hermann Prey)
* Christmas with the Vienna Boys' Choir, London Symphony Orchestra (1990)
* Weihnacht mit den Wiener Sängerknaben (Gillesberger 1980)
* Die Wiener Sängerknaben und ihre Schönsten ... (1967)
* Frohe Weihnacht (1960)
* Christmas Angels (RCA Gold Seal)
Pop music
* I Am from Austria (2006)
* Wiener Sängerknaben Goes Pop (2002)
Other recordings
* Orff: Carmina Burana (with Andre Previn and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra) (1994)
Stille Nacht Heilige Nacht
Vienna Boys' Choir Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Stille Nacht Heilige Nacht' by these artists:
Aeolian Kammerchor Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur …
André Hazes Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht. Davids Zoon, lang verwacht, die…
Andrea Berg (Garcia Jos T a todas esas cosas, y t que son maravill…
Andrea Bocelli Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright Round…
Andrea Jürgens Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! Alles schläft, einsam wacht N…
Andreas Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur…
Basilica-Chor Und das habt zum Zeichen Ihr werdet finden das Kind In Winde…
Choir of St. Thomas's Church Leipzig/Biller Silent night Holy night All is calm All is bright Round …
Chor Und das habt zum Zeichen Ihr werdet finden das Kind In Winde…
Die Kita-Frösche Simone Sommerland & Karsten Glück Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur…
Die Roten Rosen Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur …
Die Toten Hosen Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, alles schlдft, einsam wacht nur…
Die Westfälischen Nachtigallen Und das habt zum Zeichen Ihr werdet finden das Kind In Winde…
Dresden Staatskapelle & Leipzig Thomaner Choir Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur…
Dresden Vocal Concert Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur …
Dresdner Kreuzchor Strophe 1 Stille Nacht, Heilge Nacht, alles schläft, einsam …
Dresdner Kreuzchor & Cross Bell Orchestra Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht Alles schläft, einsam wacht nur …
Erhard Mauersberger & Thomanerchor Leipzig Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur…
Erich-Storz-Trio Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, Alles schläft einsam wacht Nur …
F. Gruber Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht Alles schläft, einsam wacht nur …
Frans Bauer Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur…
Franz Gruber Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht Alles schläft, einsam wacht nur …
Franz Xaver Gruber Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! Alles schläft, einsam wacht n…
Freddy Quinn Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Alles schläft; einsam wacht Nur…
Fritz Wunderlich Hermann Prey Wolfgang Neininger Hans Georg Renner Berthold Stihl Helmut Böcker Wolf Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur…
Grüber Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht Alles schläft, einsam wacht nur …
Hans Joachim Rotzsch Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur…
Hansi Hinterseer STILLE NACHT HEILIGE NACHT STILLE NACHT, HEILIGE NACHT ALL…
Harry Pleva-Chor Und das habt zum Zeichen Ihr werdet finden das Kind In Winde…
Howard Carpendale Stille Nacht Als vor zweihundert Jahren diese Zeilen zum ers…
Joseph Mohr Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, Alles schläft; einsam wacht Nur…
Kastelruther Spatzen Schnell ziehen die Tage des Jahres dahin Vieles was wichtig …
Kathleen Battle/Frederica von Stade Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yo…
Kinderchor Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht Alles schläft einsam wacht Nur d…
Konrad-Plaickner-Chor Und das habt zum Zeichen Ihr werdet finden das Kind In Winde…
Leipzig Thomaner Choir & Hans-Joachim Rotzsch Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur…
Lena Felix & die Kita-Kids Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur…
Lena Felix und die Kita-Kids Stille nacht Stille nacht Stille nacht Stille nacht, heilig…
Luciano Pavarotti Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur …
Marianne & Michael Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, Alles schläft; einsam wacht Nur…
Monika Ross Peter Schreier Thomanerchor Leipzig Staatskapelle Dresden & Hans-Joachim Rotzsch Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur…
Montserrat Caballé Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur…
Nana Mouskouri Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur …
Nicole Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur…
Onkel Tom Angelripper Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht - Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nu…
Paul & Jens Schmiedel Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yo…
Peter Kopp Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur …
Peter Schilling Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht Alles schlaeft einsam wacht, nur…
Peter Schreier Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur…
Pfarrer Franz Brei [feat. S.E. Bischof Dr. Aegidius Zsifkovics & signum!] NOITE FELIZ Noite Feliz Noite Feliz Noite Feliz Tudo é paz…
Placido Domingo;Wiener Sängerknaben Silent night! holy night! All is calm, all is bright, Roun…
Regensburger Domspatzen Silent Night SPOKEN Intro: "To you the man, woman, the…
Roger Whittaker Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, alles schläft, einsam wacht, nu…
Roland Kaiser Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur …
Ronny Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht! Alles schläft; einsam wacht Nur…
Rundfunk-Jugendchor Wernigerode Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht Alles schläft einsam wacht Nur d…
Schwarzmeer Kosaken-Chor Und das habt zum Zeichen Ihr werdet finden das Kind In Winde…
Sigrid & Marina NOITE FELIZ Noite Feliz Noite Feliz Noite Feliz Tudo é paz…
Simone Sommerland Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur…
St Thomas's Boys Choir Leipzig & Hans-Joachim Rotzsch Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur…
sternschnuppe Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur …
Steven Mercurio Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Alles schläft; einsam wacht Nur…
The Kelly Family Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur …
The King's Singers Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, Alles schläft einsam wacht Nur …
Thomanerchor Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur…
Unheilig Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! Alles schläft, einsam wacht N…
Vanessa Mai Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur …
X-Mas Project Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Alles schläft; einsam wacht Nur…
X-mas project (heavy metal christmas) Warme Luft legt sich auf meine Haut Komm nicht bei Tageslich…
Zschorlauer Nachtigallen Heilige Nacht in Arzgebirg Tausend Lichterle flimmern Wald u…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Vienna Boys' Choir:
Adeste Fideles O come, all ye faithful Joyful and triumphant O come ye, O…
All You Need Is Love Love, love, love Love, love, love Love, love, love There's …
Ave Maria Ave Maria Gratia plena Maria, gratia plena Maria, gratia ple…
Ave Maria D.839 Ave Maria Gratia plena Maria, gratia plena Maria, gratia ple…
Carol Of The Bells Hark how the bells, Sweet silver bells, All seem to…
Deck The Hall Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la…
Deck The Halls Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la…
Happy Christmas So this is Christmas and what have you done, Another year…
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Hark the herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King! Pe…
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Have yourself a merry little Christmas Let your heart be lig…
Heart of Jungle ahhhahhhhhahahha ahhhhahhhhhahahaha ahhhahhhhahahaha hoohoho…
In Dulci Jubilo Good Christian men, rejoice, With heart and soul, and voice…
Joy To The World Jeremiah was a bullfrog Was a good friend of mine I never…
Maria durch ein' Dornwald ging Maria durch ein' Dornwald ging. Kyrieleison! Maria durch ein…
O Tannenbaum DEUTSCH TEXT: Ernst Anschütz, 1824 O Tannenbaum, o Tannenb…
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose. And…
The Little Drummer Boy Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum Our newborn King…
The Little Drummerboy Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum Our newborn King…
We Wish You A Merry Christmas We wish you a Merry Christmas; We wish you a…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@TheDacapo1
Absolutely beautiful and timeless and arresting to say the least. Dear God if only we could teach as many young boys as possible to sing harmony at an early age, the world would be a better place. God bless The Vienna Boys Choir for decades of hope and beauty.
@wienersaengerknaben1498
thank you for your lovely comment!
@elainethemusician3310
This must be the best loved carol in the world and this is one of the loveliest versions l have ever heard. It is so good to hear these boys from Austria, the home of Silent Night, and, of course, in their native German; the original language. They have such lovely smiles, too.
@wienersaengerknaben1498
Thank you very much! It probably IS the best loved carol in the world - the version here is the original, as Franz Xaver Gruber (the composer) and Joseph Mohr (the lyricist) are said to have sung it themselves on Christmas Eve in 1818. They say it has been translated in over 300 languages.
@marieboutin9054
sehr schön. Wunderbar. Dieses lied ist sehr schön auf Deutsch.
@IrwanSihombing-ng5bz
Thankyou for posting. I had loved listening to this beautiful and heavenly Vienna Boys Voices since I was very young. I'm now turning to 60 years old and still enjoy listening. It brings back my childhood beautiful Christmas memory.
@wienersaengerknaben1498
thank you for sharing your memories!
@petraluger5357
woah... das schönste Weihnachtslied geht immer sehr tief.....
@jem1954
Wow - 1,1 Mio. Aufrufe inzwischen! Das ist toll und hochverdient. Für mich ist die Präsentation dieser Vier immer noch die schönste Interpretation dieses wundervollen Liedes. Danke an Simeon, Matthew, Philipp und Daniel mit ihren engelsgleichen Stimmen für diesen zu Herzen gehenden Gesang ... 👌👍🤗❣
@Heike0815
dem kann ich nur zustimmen. Ich suche immer wieder genau dieses Video mit diesen herrlichen Stimmen und den leuchtenden Augen der Jungen 😀