Known for its exceedingly high vocal standard, the choir has worked with musicians including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Antonio Caldara, Antonio Salieri, Heinrich Isaac, Paul Hofhaimer, Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber, Johann Joseph Fux, Christoph Willibald Gluck, and Anton Bruckner.
The choir is the modern-day descendant of the boys' choirs of the Viennese Court, dating back to the late Middle Ages. The choir was, for practical purposes, established by a letter written by Maximilian I on 7 July 1498. In the letter the Emperor instructed court officials to employ a singing master, two basses and six boys. A Slovene, 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. Composers Jacobus Gallus, Franz Schubert, and conductors Hans Richter, Felix Mottl and Clemens Krauss were members of the choir.[1]
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 extended into being 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 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, which perform about 300 concerts each year in front of almost 500,000 people. Each group tours for about nine to eleven weeks.
Dr. Eugen Jesser became the choir's president in 2001 and its director in 2003. Gerald Wirth became the choir's artistic director in 2001.
Deck The Halls
Vienna Boys Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yule tide carol,
See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Follow me in merry measure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
While I tell of Yule tide treasure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Sing we joyous, all together,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
The song "Deck the Halls" is a traditional Christmas song that depicts the festive season. The first verse of the song urges people to decorate their homes with holly as a symbol of the season's joy. The second verse encourages people to put on their festive clothes and sing an ancient Yule tide carol. The third verse talks about the blazing Yule and how one can join in the merrymaking by striking the harp and singing along. The fourth verse invites people to follow the singer while they talk of Yuletide treasure. The fifth verse urges people to hail the new year and welcomes both lads and lasses. The final verse encourages people to sing together, irrespective of the weather, and celebrate joyously.
Line by Line Meaning
Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Let us adorn the halls with branches of holly as we sing fa la la la la, la la la la.
Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
This is the time of year to be joyful and sing fa la la la la, la la la la.
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Let us put on our brightly colored clothes and sing fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yule tide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Let us sing the old Yule tide carol and sing fa la la la la, la la la la.
See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Look at the bright and fiery Yule before us, and sing fa la la la la, la la la la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Play the harp and join in the singing of the chorus with fa la la la la, la la la la.
Follow me in merry measure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Join me in a happy and upbeat rhythm while we sing fa la la la la, la la la la.
While I tell of Yule tide treasure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
As I speak of the treasures of Yule tide, let us sing fa la la la la, la la la la.
Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
The old year passes by quickly, as we sing fa la la la la, la la la la.
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Welcome the new year, young men and women, as we sing fa la la la la, la la la la.
Sing we joyous, all together,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Let us sing joyously and in unison, with fa la la la la, la la la la.
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Pay no mind to the wind and weather, and keep singing fa la la la la, la la la la.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Thomas Oliphant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind