We've received numerous requests for information on the history of
choir robes.
A complete account of the origin and background history of choir gowns
is beyond our research ability. However, this article offers a brief
chronicle of the record of events from the past concerning the costumes
and dress used in mostly religious and school institutions for choirs.
Based on known documentation from that era, we attempt to report a chronology
and timeline of those outfits known as choir robes.
Before delving into the far past, it's useful to keep in mind where we
are now with choir robes. The modern religious and choral robe currently
employs different robes, gowns, and vestments for different individuals
and groups within the school, church, temple, or other religious or secular
institution.
The Choir: In addition to the choir gowns for choir
members, there is a directors robe and organists robe for specific members
of the choir. Sometimes a bell choir will have their own type of choral
gowns. For a children’s choral group you often find acolyte robes.
Churches with multiple choirs will often have different choral vestments
or choral uniforms for each choir.
The Sanctuary: Outside the choir for services, the types
of church robes often include a robe for the lead speaker. Depending on
the institution, this may be a minister robe, pulpit gown, church vestments,
rabbinical gown, or doctoral robe. Finally, various specific religions
and groups use clerical vestments for members of the clergy.
Specific Events: Certain specific events also require
special church robes, such as baptismal robes for a baptism.
Schools and Choral Organizations: A variety of different
styles are used for schools, amateur singing groups, and professional
chorus or choral organizations (often along with a symphony or other musical
accompaniment).
Origin of the Choir Robe - Timeline
Ancient Egypt
The earliest visual depiction of a group of singers
performing can be found in ancient tombs in Egypt around 2700
BC. However, there was no indication of a robe, vestment, or other
formal or organized clothing for such early choirs.
The image to the right depicts what is believed to be a blind
choir of ancient egypt. |
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Ancient Greece and Rome
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The earliest evidence of a potentially-formal choir
robe is found in ancient Greece. The Greek Chorus seems to have
been relatively common in that era, and can be seen depicted on
a portion of pottery dating from around 425 BC. That Greek pottery
displays members of a choir both singing and playing musical instruments.
The members of that ancient choir are seen wearing lengthy loose
gowns that reach up and across their left shoulders. Those pictured
in the pottery displayed to the left obviously have a slightly
more elaborate design than the earliest depiction.
The use of gowns likely developed from the ancient tunic. Indeed,
clerical vestments such as an alb are directly related to the ancient
tunic, with the word origin being a latin phrase meaning a tunic
of white. Modern albs remain a plain, lightweight, ankle-length
tunic with long sleeves, with a rope cincture about the waist. Ancient
tunics were sleeveless, and were seen as a distinction from barbarians
wore sleeved clothing (probably because those tribes lived in the
colder regions). The tunic eventually did include a sleeve around
the 3rd century, after military leaders returned from a campaign
wearing them. This combination of tunic and choir evolved with time. |
Early Judaism
The Jewish Torah (bible) provides
some possible indications that choirs held a role for the early
Hebrews. For example, Nehemiah Chapter 12, section 31 has the
leaders of Judah assigning two choirs to offer thanks in some
translations of that section. Jewish law dictates vestments or
robes for the high priest and for certain other roles at this
time as well. However, I have yet to find evidence that these
choirs wore robes.
Pictured to the right is a high priest of this era, in complete
regalia. |
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Early Christianity
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The first four centuries of Christianity did not
involve a special robe, tunic, vestment or other garb for members
of the clergy nor presumably for choirs used in a religious setting
or otherwise. Tunics remained the primary article of clothing, typically
knee-length to ankle-length, usually with a cincture. Often, an
additional article of clothing known as a himation was worn. This
was rectangular, and wrapped around ones body over the tunic. Himations
came in various colors, qualities, and designs dependant on occupation,
gender, and status. There is no evidence that the himation became
a clerical vestment.
Over time clergy vestments became richer and made of costlier
materials, and beauty played a larger role in church garments.
It is unknown if choirs of this time followed suit, though it
seems likely. |
Medieval Era
Until this time, music notations for choirs typically
used only small notes sketched above words indicating the fall or
rise of voice, but not duration or note pitch. Choir music evolved
in this era to include the Gregorian chant, named after Pope Gregory
I. He also mandated music standardization, including rules for composers
and musicians for performing and writing music.
Boys choirs also began to rise in prominence at this time. Because
many of the better schools were associated with the Church, they
also trained boys for choirs. Examples include the “Ratisbonne
Choir”, started in Germany near the end of the tenth century,
and “Kings College Choir” in England. Eventually, all
major churches of the era included choristers.
Choir fashions followed the fashion trends of clergy. With the rise
of the surplice (white, sleeved, blouse-like shirt with lace trim
worn over a cassock) worn over a cassock (plain black, long-sleeved,
ankle-length tunic) as the official clergy garment, choirs also
adopted this style. Uniformity and a formalization of a “choir
look” came about. |
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Renaissance
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Secular choirs started to gain influence once wealthy
patrons started sponsoring musicians in the Renaissance period.
The oldest written evidence of polyphonic choral singing dates
from the late 1300s to around 1420 with the Old Hall Manuscript
(pictured to the left). This document uses divisi (two or more
voices per part). |
Sacred choral music rose to prominence as the foremost
formal music in Europe. During the era, music composition produced
hundreds of motets and masses for primarily a cappella choirs.
Choral music composed during this era remains desirable even today.
A setting for 3–6 voices of a secular text known as a Madrigal
also became popular at this time. Madrigals were initially concerning
dramatic settings, typically of mythology or unrequited love based
on Italian poetry. However, the setting usually changed to a more
cheerful tone once exported England, with subjects such as Easter
or spring.
Like the Medieval period, the trend in choir apparel followed
the fashion trends of the day. While a separate look was established
for the choir, uniformity in color and design was not required.
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Reformation
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A new style of pulpit wear took hold during the Reformation era,
called the Geneva style. This style, still in use today, was based
on Academic Regalia for doctoral graduates. Choirs of the reformation
followed suit, adopting gowns based on the graduation robe style
rather than the secular fashion of the day. It is at this time that
the four basic types of gowns were established which remain today:
clergy robes, choir gowns, academic robes, and judicial robes.
The baroque period of music, with instrumentals, opera, and chords,
flourished at this time and influence choral music. New harmonic
techniques such as the counterpoint were developed, resulting in
accompaniment for choirs by different ensembles in addition to the
traditional a cappella choirs. Verse anthems alternated choral sections
with accompanied solos.
Grand motets also separated sections into movements, while oratorios
expanded on this work to form concert-length performance based on
bible stories. Chorales hymns were also turned into cantatas with
instrumental accompaniment by principally Lutheran composers at
this time.
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Classical and Romantic Period
The 18th century focused on expanding use of the symphony and
instrumental music. By the 19th century, sacred music left the
religious context and secular stage concert productions for
choirs became popular. Oratorios were still composed during
this era as well, as were secular cantatas.
Famous choral works of the time include Beethoven's Missa solemnis,
Berlioz's Te Deum, Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem, Rossini's
Stabat mater, Schubert's masses, Verdi's Requiem, Berlioz's
L'Enfance du Christ and Mendelssohn's Elijah.
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Amateur social choirs became common in this
era, called singing clubs, usually with separate choirs
for women and men. Music was in four-part and a cappella,
though sometimes with simple instrumentation.
The choir robe in this period became much more elaborate
in design, and specific to individual choirs. Heavy embroidery
was used, and robes often including brocade and elaborate
stoles. |
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20th and 21st centuries
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Music for choirs evolved in the 20th century, which has become
a period of experimentation, formalization, and development. With
this evolution came the mass marketing of the choir robe for both
secular choirs in primarily schools, and religious choirs in churches
and temples.
Choir robe sales started with a focus on just a few colors, styles,
and fabrics. Originally, most choir gowns came in only one of three
colors: black, white, and blue. With the advent of the popularity
of gospel choirs the choir robe began to blossom into a multitude
of choices. Now, choirs across the world can choose from over a
hundred styles, with almost any color in the spectrum and numerous
fabric choices and accessories.
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Additional Definitions and Notes
CHORUS: An ensemble performing the non-solo portion of
a musical theatre production or opera or oratorio is generally called
a chorus or chorale. Some other common names used for types of choirs
include: Chamber choir, concert choir, show choir, opera choir, church
choir, gospel choir, and male choir.
ROBES VS. VESTMENTS: Robes are not technically vestments. Robes are a
gown of up to ankle-length, with typically long sleeves, and designed
to be worn with no cincture. Four types of robes exist which evolved from
academic regalia worn by university faculty in medieval colleges: choir
gowns, academic robes, clergy robes, and judicial robes. All four types
of robes are intended to be worn over ones clothing. A stole can be worn
over a robe.
While vestments are worn by lay leaders, robes are not. The robe's original
intent was to designate that the person had academic credentials. Starting
with John Calvin, academic robes were worn in religious institutions and
churches. To this day, clerical robes are typically worn in churches of
the Reformed tradition, including Presbyterians, Calvinists, and Baptists.
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