The choirloft of the Sistine Chapel in the early 17th century, depicted by Agostino Tassi (here in a 1848 copy by Ingres).
The Sistine Chapel Choir, as it is generally called in English, or officially the Coro della Cappella Musicale Pontificia Sistina in Italian, is the Pope's personal choir. It performs at papal functions in the Sistine Chapel and in any other church in Rome where the Pope is officiating, including St. Peter's Basilica. One of the oldest choirs in the world, it was constituted as the Pope's personal choir by Pope Sixtus IV (from whom both the choir and the chapel in which it performs take their names). Although it was established in the late 15th century, its roots go back to the 4th century and the reign of Pope Sylvester I.
The choir's composition and numbers have fluctuated over the centuries. However, the modern choir comprises twenty men (tenors and basses) and thirty boys (sopranos and altos). The men's choir (Cantori) is composed of professional singers. The members of the boys choir (Pueri Cantores) are not paid when performing at papal functions, but receive a free education at their own school in Rome, known as the Schola Puerorum. Since the late 20th century, in addition to its papal duties, the choir has undertaken international tours, participated in radio and television broadcasts, and recorded for Deutsche Grammophon.
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of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations and head of the Pontifical SistineChapelChoir since October 2021. He was appointed a titular archbishop in 2023...
coronation Culture Vatican Museums Vatican Library Music of Vatican City SistineChapelChoir Languages of Vatican City Women in Vatican City Vatican Christmas...
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contains religious and cultural sites such as St. Peter's Basilica, the SistineChapel, the Vatican Apostolic Library, and the Vatican Museums. They feature...
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and the Holy See, private and public chapels, Vatican Museums, and the Vatican Library, including the SistineChapel, Raphael Rooms, and Borgia Apartment...
true castrato was Alessandro Moreschi (1858–1922) who served in the SistineChapelChoir. It was not until the late 19th century that the Roman Catholic Church...
Weigel, George (21 April 2005). "Conclaves: Surprises abound in the SistineChapel". The Madison Catholic Herald Online. Archived from the original on...
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coronation Culture Vatican Museums Vatican Library Music of Vatican City SistineChapelChoir Languages of Vatican City Women in Vatican City Vatican Christmas...
popes and scenes from the Old and New Testaments on the walls of the SistineChapel. Ghirlandaio painted the Vocation of the Apostles. He also painted the...
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