Swedish Music Band – Luleå Band Orchestra

It was 1930 inside Luleå city in northen Sweden that the Swedish music band known as the Luleå Band Orchestra (Luleå Musikkår) was formed by a small wind player sextet, and the rest of a little orchestra that has been operating since the early 1900s at the small iron foundry in Karlsvik, just outside of Luleå.

Swedish Music Band – Luleå Wind Band

Originally, the name of the orchestra was Luleå Wind Band (Luleå Blåsorkester) and the first founder, conductor, and leader was the printers Carl Rehnstrom (1930-1955). The orchestra has played at park concerts and other special occasions. They even got to play on a moving truck for the Children’s Day ride.

The only problem with these kinds of outdoor events though was that sometimes the sound quality was not always as good. Their repertoire consisted of marches and a few notes were later received by new music director Einar Råberg and his I.19’s Military Band in Boden, (located 40km west of Luleå)

This Swedish music band did not have any common uniforms or clothing, instead they wore only white hats in various sizes and they had a little bit of trouble with the marching. In addition, there was only one drummer in the orchestra.

It was 1955 and Carl Rehnström decided to leave this Swedish music band to Sven Hallberg, (who had been the orchestra’s 1st-clarinet player for a number of years), the orchestra was still at “half speed” for a while until several musicians left off and the orchestra almost disappeared entirely. During those winter months, they did not have any concerts, only rehearsals, and in the summer they only had a few park concerts in the museum park in Luleå.

It was 1960 when the flutist PG Råberg was elected to lead the now slightly mangled Swedish music band. In this Swedish music band, PG Råberg began working up the orchestra gradually.

Mr. Råberg also worked as a music and instrumental teacher at the former grammar school in Luleå, so it was no surprise that many of the young people, (including foreign exchange students and new musicians), from Råberg’s music education, at the grammar school, were added to this Swedish music band PG Råberg was working with.

Swedish Music Band – Luleå Band Orchestra and The Women Drum Band

During his time making a success of his Swedish music band, Luleå Band Orchestra, PG Råberg also trained and started another successful band. The Women Drum Band, consisted of about 20 young women drummers, solo, and tutti drummers. Together with the band orchestra they had a great success.

The uniforms were purchased with the support of the Luleå municipality. Each Tuesday, park concerts were performed at the museum park in Luleå. The band changed its name to Lulea Band Orchestra, (Luleå Musikkår), and the annual concerts in the theater “Spegeln” in Luleå became even more popular.

There has also been cooperation with The Military Band in Boden (I.19:s Militärmusikkår). Both bands did concerts together, music workshops with teachers on various instruments, and concerts in Boden. In addition to this, the growing and well-sounding band expanded even further with entertainment orchestra, string players, and a big band. At marching events a drum major would lead the band.

As the youthful and feminine elements of the band became more apparent, it grew in popularity throughout the county. The band was engaged for events like Children’s Day, and the Swedish National Day. They also played at The First of May Day, that was held in different rural districts and the Technicians cortège which annually took place on Walpurgis night, real grammar school- and student cortèges in Lulea. The band also played at major sporting events, football matches, opening ceremonies, international events, and more.

This great Swedish music band was now comprised of about 40 musicians, sometimes more. When PG Råberg ended the instrumental tuition at school in Luleå and was asked to become head of State Military Corps/Region Music of Northern Sweden, the number of musicians in Luleå and the ancient Luleå Band Orchestra (Luleå Musikkår) began to phase out gradually. This happened in the 1980s, when the new Cultural Committee Chairman gradually started reducing the allocation for the band that had been so much appreciated.

Luleå Band Orchestra also did both radio and recordings as “Melodies from Norrbotten archipetago”, which was composed by PG Råberg.

Music in Luleå during this time usually consisted of several pop bands and even some accordion orchestras. Luleå Accordion Club was the most prominent in terms of accordion music in Luleå. After the Swedish music band, Luleå Band Orchestra, PG Råberg went on to join this orchestra.