Royal chapel

The first noble or royal court orchestras in German language regions, most of which were founded in the sixteenth century, were called Hofkapelle.

When the noble and royal courts dissipated the name was often replaced by Staatskapelle ("State Chapel"), usually indicating an orchestra with a prior tradition as Hofkapelle.

The Vienna Boys Choir replaced the former Hofkapelle at the Austrian Hofburg four years after the original musical ensemble was disbanded in 1920, following the collapse of the monarchy.

The establishment grew during the reign of Louis XIV to include castrati and women, and the many instruments needed to perform motets.

By the death of King Louis XIV, in 1715, the Chapel Royal had a total of 110 singers (sopranos, castrati, haute-contres, tenors, baritones and bass) and 20 instrumentalists (violin and viola, bass violin, theorbo, flute, oboe, bass cromorne, serpent and bassoon) Chapelle du château de Versailles The Chapel Royal of Naples, under the rule of Aragon, then of Habsburg Spain, the Bourbons and finally Joseph Napoleon, was the centre of sacred music in southern Italy.