Gendering the Boy Voice

Abstract

The second chapter pursues the question, ‘what is so intriguing about choirboys?’ by introducing the reader to contemporary debates in international research on adolescent masculinity studies, male vocality, gender-class issues in music education scholarship and trends in music participation such the ‘missing males’ in boys’ singing. A critique of these discourses establishes the warrant for fresh sociological insights in the construction of the ‘boy voice’ and an understanding of the historical genealogy of what the choirboy symbolises.