The Vienna Philharmonic was founded in 1842 and has worked without disruptions since the 1860s... But surely there are some groups working somewhere in the world that are even older?So that we don't get stuck in semantics, let's say we count only groups who have defined membership, and who work at least semi-professionally. So, for example, the choir of some church doesn't count unless they're also a professional performing unit.
― Tuomas, Monday, 28 January 2019 08:22 (five years ago) link
Leipzig Gewandhausorchester - 1740s or so, though they claim relation to an earlier group of official city musicians dating back to the 15th Century?
― Einstürzende NEU!bauten (Branwell with an N), Monday, 28 January 2019 08:48 (five years ago) link
Fisk University Jubilee Singers have been performing since 1871.
― mfktz (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Monday, 28 January 2019 08:56 (five years ago) link
The Copper Family – origins unclear, but have probably been performing English folk songs since the mid-19th century.
― the word dog doesn't bark (anagram), Monday, 28 January 2019 09:03 (five years ago) link
https://slippedisc.com/2012/01/the-worlds-oldest-orchestras-a-definitive-chart/
― pomenitul, Monday, 28 January 2019 09:25 (five years ago) link
Interesting! I was just thinking that some of the royal orchestras of still-existing monarchies might be in this category, I guess that's the case then. I wonder how many of those have existed continously throughout the centuries, though?
― Tuomas, Monday, 28 January 2019 09:49 (five years ago) link
All of those listed are supposedly still in existence. Perhaps some of them underwent interruptions, however, who knows?
― pomenitul, Monday, 28 January 2019 09:52 (five years ago) link
some ottoman military bands have existed since the 12th century apparently?
― StanM, Monday, 28 January 2019 10:23 (five years ago) link
The Choir of King's College, Cambridge has been going since 1441
― mfktz (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Monday, 28 January 2019 10:32 (five years ago) link
The Aachener Domchor (Aachen Cathedral Choir) is the oldest boys' choir in Germany and one of the oldest in the world. Based in Aachen, the former capital of the Carolingian Empire, the choir is sometimes also identified using its Latin name, Cappella Carolina. The choir's origins stretch back more than 1200 years, to the court of Charlemagneand its choir school (schola cantorum) which the emperor founded together with Saint Alcuin of Yorkand which was known at that time as the Schola Palatina, the "Palatinate Choir".
― mfktz (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Monday, 28 January 2019 10:36 (five years ago) link
ah
So that we don't get stuck in semantics, let's say we count only groups who have defined membership, and who work at least semi-professionally. So, for example, the choir of some church doesn't count unless they're also a professional performing unit.
― mfktz (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Monday, 28 January 2019 10:51 (five years ago) link
By "defined membership" I meant that it's not just "whoever happened to be in the congregation/attending the school/etc at that moment".
― Tuomas, Monday, 28 January 2019 11:10 (five years ago) link
The Royal Danish Orchestra was founded in 1448 but I don't know if it's existed continuously for all that time.
― Matt DC, Monday, 28 January 2019 11:39 (five years ago) link