Dresdner Kapellknaben (Boys’ Choir)

Founded: 1709 - Dresden, Germany

The Dresdner Kapellknaben (= DKK) is the boy choir of the Cathedral (former Hofkirche) in Dresden. As Kapellknaben institute they exist since 1709 after the conversion of August the Strong Catholic religion. In the last 50 years the size of the choir is about 60 boys. The DKK sings above all sacred music of all epochs in services and concerts. Tours led them to Germany, Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Italy, France, Poland, Holland and the USA.

The task of the choir is the musical organisation of the holy masses at the Dresdner Hofkirche, the cathedral of the Bistums Dresden-Meißen. To master such efforts, very good musical qualities and a high artistic level of the choir are necessary. These are attained by intensive daily rehearsal work and right education instruction. Beside the appearances and the rehearsals, the singers experience however intensive community with boys of the same age and explore on concert tours of strange countries and cultures.

The DKK stands in the tradition of the Saxonian court. In the year 1548 Prince Moritz of Saxony issued a "Cantoreiordnung" and established thereby for the court service the Hofkantorei, from which beside the Kapellknaben came out also the Hofkapelle (Sächsische Staatskapelle). The ensemble under Matthäus Le Maistre could already refer seven years after the establishment to the size of 18 singers of alto up to the bass, 13 Kapellknaben, 3 organists and a Baelgetreter. Particularly in the years from 615 to 1672 the Kantorei attained a high artistic quality, because the well-known composer Heinrich Schütz managed this institution at that time as a Hofkapellmeister. The performance of the music of Heinrich Schütz takes also today a central place, the DKK specifies regularly Motetten of this master in the context of Sundays services, Vespers and concerts.

Source: Dresdner Kapellknaben Website, English translation by Aryeh Oron (April 2004)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (April 2004)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Peter Schreier

Choir

BWV 244

Links to other Sites

Dresdner Kapellknaben (Official Website) [German]