Instrumentellt i fält? : En studie om karolinska skalmejblåsare och hautboister

Sammanfattning: Military music in Sweden in early modern times is an understudied area of research. Shawm and oboe playersat Swedish regiments during the reigns of Charles XI and XII have previously not been the focus of aconfined study. This study aims to highlight these musicians and their place within Sweden’s musical life ofthe period. The study comprises five sections looking at different aspects of the shawm and oboe players work andlife within the military. Theses aspects include employment, work assignments, education, instruments, andrepertoire. Information on these topics was collected from various contemporary sources, e.g. muster rollsand letters to and from the regiments. The study takes the viewpoint that military music was an integral partof noble culture and identity. The study shows that these shawm and oboe players were an important part of Swedish musical lifeand highlights these musicians’ ties to the noble officers. Likewise, it suggests that shawm and oboe playersin Europe were important for the spread and dissemination of music and musical instruments.