Orphei Drängar

Orphei Drängar (or Sångsällskapet Orphei Drängar, often just OD) is a Swedish male choir and singing society founded in 1853, based in Uppsala and one of the two notable singing societies traditionally affiliated with the university there (the other one being the two decades older Allmänna Sången, "The Common Song"). Sångsällskapet means "The singing society", Orphei means "of Orpheus", while the Swedish word drängar is the plural of dräng, "farmhand".

The society is said to have been founded on 30 October 1853, when a dozen student singers gathered at the Hotel d'Upland in Uppsala to sing songs by Carl Michael Bellman. The idea to found a new singing society is said to have come at the singing of Bellman's Hör I Orphei Drängar ("Hear Ye, O Servants of Orpheus!"), from which the new society took its name. The composer Jacob Axel Josephson, since 1849 director musices of the university, was recruited as director of the choir in 1854. During the latter half of the 19th century, the choir went on tours abroad to Paris (1867, 1878, 1900), Berlin (1898) and other places.

During the 20th century, the choir has been led 1910-1947 by Hugo Alfvén (who was also director musices) and 1951-1991 by Eric Ericson. Since 1991 the director has been Robert Sund. He retired 2008 and was succeeded by Cecilia Rydinger Alin.

Selected recordings

• OD Highlights BIS.
• Capricer med OD Vol.1 (1964-1969), Vol.2 (1970-1975), Vol.3 (1976-1981), Vol.4 (1982-1986), Vol.5 (1987-1990), Vol.6 (1991-1995), Vol.7 (1996-1999)

External links

• Orphei Drängar, official website