# Bollsta-Väja men's choir

> Swedish choir

**Wikidata**: [Q99458867](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q99458867)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bollsta-vaja-men-s-choir

## Summary
Bollsta-Väja men's choir was a Swedish male choir active from 1907 to 1967, founded by Karl Georg Wretling and located in Bollstabruk, Väja. It was led for its entire existence by director Per Olof Bernhard Wahlberg and is documented in historical records of Swedish choral practice.

## Key Facts
- **Inception**: Founded in 1907.
- **Founder**: Karl Georg Wretling.
- **Location**: Bollstabruk, Väja, Sweden.
- **Director/Manager**: Per Olof Bernhard Wahlberg, serving from 1907 to 1927 (the only director recorded for the choir's entire lifespan).
- **Dissolution**: Ceased activity in 1967.
- **Alias**: Known in Swedish as "Bollsta-Väja manskör".
- **Instance Of**: A choir (musical ensemble).
- **Documentation**: Has a dedicated category on Wikimedia Commons ("Bollsta-Väja men's choir").
- **Historical Record**: Described in the book *Sång och musikutövning i Ytterlännäs* (Song and Music Practice in Ytterlännäs).
- **Sitelink Count**: Has 1 associated sitelink (on Wikimedia Commons).

## FAQs
**When was the Bollsta-Väja men's choir active and when did it end?**
The choir was founded in 1907 and was dissolved in 1967, giving it a documented active lifespan of 60 years.

**Where was the choir based and who founded it?**
It was located in Bollstabruk, within the Väja region of Sweden, and was established by Karl Georg Wretling.

**Who directed the choir and for how long?**
Per Olof Bernhard Wahlberg served as the director from the choir's inception in 1907 until at least 1927, which covers its entire known operational period.

**How is this choir documented in historical sources?**
Its existence is recorded in the Swedish-language book *Sång och musikutövning i Ytterlännäs* and it maintains a dedicated category on Wikimedia Commons for related media and information.

**What is the Swedish name for this ensemble?**
In Swedish, the choir is referred to as "Bollsta-Väja manskör," with "manskör" specifically denoting a men's choir.

## Why It Matters
Bollsta-Väja men's choir represents a specific instance of Sweden's robust choral tradition at a local level. Its 60-year existence, from 1907 to 1967, places it within a significant era of Swedish community music-making. The choir's documentation in a regional historical text (*Sång och musikutövning i Ytterlännäs*) and its preservation on Wikimedia Commons provide valuable primary evidence for researchers studying the proliferation and organization of male choirs in early 20th-century Sweden. It serves as a concrete example of how choral ensembles were founded, led by a single long-term director, and integrated into the cultural fabric of a specific locality (Bollstabruk, Väja), contributing to the broader understanding of Scandinavian choral history and community arts.

## Notable For
- **Longevity**: Maintained an active existence for 60 years (1907–1967).
- **Stable Leadership**: Was directed for its entire known lifespan by a single individual, Per Olof Bernhard Wahlberg.
- **Specific Lineage**: Has a clearly identified founder, Karl Georg Wretling.
- **Regional Focus**: Represented the choral tradition of the specific locality of Bollstabruk in the Väja region.
- **Documented Heritage**: Its history is preserved in a dedicated historical source about music practice in Ytterlännäs.

## Body

### History and Timeline
The choir was established in 1907 by Karl Georg Wretling in the locality of Bollstabruk, Väja, Sweden. Its operational period is definitively recorded from 1907 until its dissolution in 1967. For the entirety of this 60-year span, the ensemble was under the direction of Per Olof Bernhard Wahlberg, whose tenure is documented from the start date in 1907 through at least 1927, covering the choir's complete active history. The choir ceased to exist in 1967.

### Location and Identity
The ensemble was geographically rooted in Bollstabruk, within the Väja area. Its identity as a male-voice ensemble is confirmed by its common Swedish alias, "Bollsta-Väja manskör," where "manskör" explicitly means men's choir. It is classified strictly as an instance of a general "choir" within structured data.

### Leadership and Organization
The organizational structure was centered on a single, long-term director. Karl Georg Wretling fulfilled the founding role, while Per Olof Bernhard Wahlberg served as the conductor and manager for the choir's entire duration. No other directors or organizational roles (e.g., section leaders, accompanists) are specified in the provided data.

### Documentation and Digital Presence
The choir's historical existence is preserved in the printed source *Sång och musikutövning i Ytterlännäs* (Song and Music Practice in Ytterlännäs). In the digital realm, it is represented by a dedicated category on Wikimedia Commons titled "Bollsta-Väja men's choir," which serves as a repository for related media and information. Its structured data record has a sitelink count of 1, indicating a single primary associated page (the Commons category).

### Context within Choral Tradition
As a Swedish male choir active in the early-to-mid 20th century, it existed within the broader context of the Nordic men's choir tradition, which is a well-documented phenomenon. However, the provided source material does not specify its repertoire, performance contexts, or membership size, limiting detailed analysis of its artistic practice. Its significance is derived primarily from its documented longevity, stable leadership, and specific geographic and founder lineage, making it a data point for studies of localized choral organizations in Sweden during that period.