"Salisbury Cathedral Choir, established since the 13th century, nowadays has equal numbers of girls and boys. Possibly they all play tennis too." (Diane)...add 'table' for the females and WAV, for one, would be quite happy with all that.

Head like a ROCK!!    Despite all evidence, he will consider no opinion but his own. (I hear vast choruses of "SEXIST PIG!!!" out there. . . .)

"Speaking of choral music, have a listen to 'Spem in alium' by Thomas Tallis, and look when it was written. If that doesn't prove you wrong about polyphony, nothing will." (Smokey)...but that is not an E. trad. - it is 'BY THOMAS TALLIS.'"

That "Spem in alium" by Thomas Tallis is composed and not traditional is well-spotted, David, but the fact that you either don't recognized or refuse to acknowledge that what people heard being sung in church had a powerful effect on the way they sang demonstrates that you either do not understand ethnomusicology, or refuse to accept its findings.

Your head's made up. I guess you would prefer that the world shouldn't be trying to confuse you with such upsetting things as reality.

Sorry about that. . . .

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Notes on Music History:

Plainsong (also plainchant) is a body of traditional songs used in the liturgies of the Roman Catholic Church. The liturgies of the Eastern Orthodox Church, though similar in many ways and probably older than the Roman tradition, are generally not classified as plainsong. Plainsong is also commonly used in the Anglican churches.

Plainsong is monophonic -- consisting of a single, unaccompanied melodic line. It is in free, rather than measured, rhythm. Plainsong often uses the lengthy reverberations and resonant modes of cathedrals to create harmonies.

In the late 9th century, plainsong began to evolve into organum, which led to the development of polyphony. The term "harmony" didn't come into common usage until the early 1700s, but it (the simultaneous sounding of two or more notes) was common practice as early as the Middle Ages.

Among other things, part-singing was necessary to accommodate different vocal ranges. Initially, though plainsong consisted of one line, the lower voices would sing a "drone" or "pedal point" note, putting a bass under the melody line.

Further reading.

Don Firth