Singing in the Choir

[kb57z (imported)]

A little item on the BBC News web site about a trio of choirboys who've signed a 500,000 pound recording contract.

Choirboys land £500k record deal (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainmen ... 207334.stm)

Not enormously interesting in itself, but the group is being managed by Aled Jones, who was himself a star boy soprano and he is quoted as saying

"It's kind of nostalgic - not that I'd go back, though," he said. "If I'd wanted to remain a choirboy I'd have had an operation!"

[Paolo]

I can't believe he actually said that!

Well, on 2nd thought, yeah I can...

[A-1 (imported)]

A little item on the BBC News web site about a trio of choirboys who've signed a 500,000 pound recording contract.

Choirboys land £500k record deal (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainmen ... 207334.stm)

Not enormously interesting in itself, but the group is being managed by Aled Jones, who was himself a star boy soprano and he is quoted as saying...

"It's kind of nostalgic - not that I'd go back, though," he said. "If I'd wanted to remain a choirboy I'd have had an operation!"

Good thing that he didn't decide to do that. The shrinks would have got all of his money trying to 'cure' him...



A-1

[transgirl23ny (imported)]

the operation is now mandatory to sing in choir? SIGN ME UP! I'll sing for you if you cut my family "jewels" off (even though they're about as much of a family heirloom as a used tampon)

[John W. (imported)]

Did Aled Jones actually say that? It is a pity that he did not go through with the operation to become a castrato, instead losing his voice at age 16.

At this age (16), by the way, in the U.K, he could legally have had the operation without parental consent; or he could have gone to the Netherlands and had it done legally at age 14, which at least one boy soprano in Wales whom I know personally has done, being arranged for by his choirmaster. Personally, I would like to see all boy sopranos who express such a wish to preserve their voices and become castrati to be given the full facts about, and unimpeded access to, the operation. Due to recent law changes, primarily intended to benefit transsexual children, this is now entirely feasible in Canada (from the age of 12) and New Zealand (at any age), as well as in the Netherlands and I think the Scandinavian countries.

Being a middle-aged amateur natural castrato singer myself, on which I have previously posted in recent months, I can say that, in modern society, there is no real disadvantage of any sort in being a prepubertal eunuch or eunuchoid. As one can see from posts to the Yahoo castrati email groups (castratiandcountertenors, castrati_history, castrati_worlds), a revival of the castrato tradition is in progress.

[JeffEunuch (imported)]

Did Aled Jones actually say that? It is a pity that he did not go through with the operation to become a castrato, instead losing his voice at age 16.

At this age (16), by the way, in the U.K, he could legally have had the operation without parental consent; or he could have gone to the Netherlands and had it done legally at age 14, which at least one boy soprano in Wales whom I know personally has done, being arranged for by his choirmaster. Personally, I would like to see all boy sopranos who express such a wish to preserve their voices and become castrati to be given the full facts about, and unimpeded access to, the operation. Due to recent law changes, primarily intended to benefit transsexual children, this is now entirely feasible in Canada (from the age of 12) and New Zealand (at any age), as well as in the Netherlands and I think the Scandinavian countries.

This is good news. Genital mods should always be an option for their owners.

[Paolo]

The key phrase in that quote is "if I'd wanted to".

[thefraj (imported)]

A close friend recently directed me to this thread. In Britain he is very famous. Like myself, most probably won't be familiar with his name, but if you stopped Britons on the street, 9 in 10 would immediately know his hit song Walking In The Air from the famous film The Snowman, which is still played every Christmas here to this day. (Usually BBC 1 or 2 I think)

It makes me feel weird thinking about it, because I first saw that movie when I was about 6, after it had been released. In fact, I think the star character was actually designed to look a little like Aled at that age.

I thouroughly recommend this film (animated, short about 20 min, but very sad at the end )

______________

The film is completely musical (no words) but is indescribably enchanting, and is no wonder this nation fell in love with it. It conveys strong emotions (even without words!). It's about a little boy who builds a snowman, and it magically comes to life and they have a series of short adventures. And at the end (the following morning) the boy runs into the back garden to see his friend, but of course with the heat of the morning his friend is gone.

And seeing the boy get tearful at the end as they play this song (also the opening theme) by Aled always has me tearful even now. I must see that movie again someday!

Anyone interested in choir music, or just moving classical pieces, I can strongly recommend this one. It's very fitting to the theme of the movie itself. (I think anyway!)

Hehe, thanks for bringing that up kb57z!! I probably wouldn't have known otherwise!

~Rog.