Det Kongelige Kapel

For the Danish national symphony orchestra, see Danmarks Radios Symfoniorkester.

Det Kongelige Kapel (English: The Royal Danish Orchestra) is believed to be the oldest orchestra in the world. Its history can be traced back to the year 1448 and the Trumpet Corps at the royal court of the Danish King Christian I. In 1770 the ensemble was relieved of its military obligations and continued as the resident orchestra of Det Kongelige Teater, the royal Danish theater in Copenhagen, a role held by the orchestra for now close to a quarter of a millennium. Today the orchestra employs around 100 musicians and is also the orchestra of Det Kongelige Teater, the opera house of Copenhagen. Since 1977, members of the brass section have performed as an independent ensemble under the name Det Kgl. Kapels Messingkvintet, later Royal Danish Brass.

Since 1448 all members of The Royal Danish Orchestra has been assigned a number that establishes their place in the history of the orchestra. Numbers 1, 2 and 3 were the trumpeters Walther, Andreas and Hans, who were employed in 1448.

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