The ‘essence’ of the cathedral choir said one authority in 1952 is ‘the boy’s voice’, and its men are ‘at their best when they blend with that clean white tone’. If asked to give an example of a choir which exemplified this ideal in 1952 many music-lovers and many cathedral musicians too would have unhesitatingly replied, the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. What was it that was different about this famous choir? What distinguished the men at King’s?

Timothy Day examines the establishment of a distinctive performing style and sound at King's, and its repercussions in the general musical world, in this article which first appeared in the RCO Journal of 2008.

This content is available free of charge to College members. To find out more about joining RCO, please click here.

Non-members with an iRCO guest account can view this content with a one-off payment of £2.49. Please enter your details below to begin the secure payment process.