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October 30 in Swedish History
Orphei Drangar is founded in Uppsala during a cholera epidemic in the mid nineteenth century.
October 30 in Swedish History
1853: The men's choir Orphei Drangar ("Orphei farm workers") was established in restaurateur Osterbergs banquet hall on Old Forum Square in Uppsala, Sweden. The city was isolated because of the risk of cholera, and little entertainment was available. First tenor Jonas Widn gathered three singers, conductor Oscar Arpi, leader of the Allmnna Sngen (then) male choir, a pianist, and, to be on the safe side, a spectator. One of the pieces they sang was Carl Michael Bellmans piece Fredmans Epistle No. 14, Hr, I Orphei Drngar, which soon became the societys call to attention.
Their tours of Sweden are complemented by concert tours in Asia, USA, Canada and Europe. An OD recording of the Bellman song is online here: Hr i Orphei Drngar, Epistel 14 More info on Orphei Drngar, see www.od.se
1860: The first of two dissenter laws was introduced. The new laws gave Swedish citizens the right to leave the Swedish Church if they became members of a government-approved religious movement. The penalty for leaving the church prior to the new laws was banishment from the country. Religious freedom did not become law in Sweden until 1951.
