This Saturday, the 900-year tradition of male-only choirs at Canterbury Cathedral comes to an end, when the brand-new Canterbury Cathedral Girls’ Choir makes its debut at Sung Evensong. To begin with, they’ll be deputising when the boys’ choir is on holiday. But that role will surely grow. And, as always when a cathedral founds a girls’ choir (and there are quite a few of them now), it’s an occasion of rejoicing for some, and gloom for others.
The case for girls’ choirs is easily put. The choirs of our cathedrals and collegiate foundations and royal chapels – and the huge body of sublime music they have nurtured – are a fabulous cultural treasure. They could be described as this country’s greatest musical achievement.
