CRIES: CRIses Established Singing. Investigations into the Inherent Potential of Collective Singing in Times of Social Crises in the Scandinavian and Baltic Regions
This project investigates the role of collective singing during times of social crisis in the Baltic and Scandinavian regions, from ca. 1800 to the present. Singing together appears to be a universal human response to crisis—a notion recently reinforced by viral videos of collective singing in Ukrainian bomb shelters. Scandinavian and Baltic countries, known for their rich traditions of collective singing, have historically used song to foster cultural resilience, resolve conflicts, and promote inclusivity. Examples range from Denmark’s singing resistance after the Second Schleswig War and WWII to Norway’s response to the 2011 Utøya attack, and from Lithuanian deportees singing in Siberian labor camps to Baltic citizens singing for independence from the Soviet Union.
Singing traditions in these regions play a key role in shaping social cohesion, cultural identity, and heritage. Yet, despite these apparent similarities, no studies have directly compared singing practices across Scandinavia and the Baltics. The CRIES project addresses this gap, investigating the diverse social impacts of collective singing during crises. It clarifies how singing fosters communal bonds but may also create exclusion or discord. Given Europe’s current challenges—warfare, lingering impacts of COVID-19, and rising digital isolation—studying practices that enhance social trust and cohesion is more urgent than ever.
Spanning from 1800 to the present, CRIES combines historical analysis, computational humanities, musicology, and ethnography. The project examines both historical and contemporary cases, including Ukrainian refugees in Scandinavia and the Baltics, to explore how collective singing supports cultural identity in displacement.
Led by K. Baunvig Aarhus University, Denmark, CRIES counts as part of the team: K.Kuutma Tartu University, Estonia; R. Muktupāvela, the Latvian Academy of Culture, Latvia; and Austé Nakiené, the Lithuanian Literature and Folklore Institute, Lithuania. Working with prominent partners such as national libraries and Europe’s largest choral festival, CRIES provides an interdisciplinary perspective on singing traditions in various crisis contexts. This research offers insights for policymakers on the unifying and potentially divisive effects of collective singing. Finally, by developing a digital archive, CRIES will make its findings accessible to researchers and the public.
Keywords:
collective singing, cultural resilience, communal singing, scandinavia, baltic countries, social inclusion and exclusion.
Consortium:
Project Leader: Katrine Baunvig, Aarhus University, Denmark
Kristin Kuutma, University of Tartu, Estonia
Rūta Muktupāvela, Latvian Academy of Culture, Latvia
Austė Nakienė, The Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore, Lithuania
Associate partners:
Aidas Sinkevicius, Deputy Director General for Infrastructure, Martynas Mazvydas National Library of Lithuania, Lithuania
Alevtina Drexel, Administrator, Goldschmidts Musikakademi, Denmark
Cecile Anne Christensen, Assistant director, Digital Transformation, Royal Danish Library, Denmark
Christopher Natzén, Research Strategist, National Library of Sweden, Sweden
Dzintra Mukāne, Executive Director, National Library of Latvia, Latvia
Elsebeth Gerner Nielsen, Stategy Director, Sangens Hus, Denmark
Jarle Flemvåg, General Manager, Krafttak for Sang, Norway
Kåre Vedding Poulsen, Editor, Danish Broadcasting Corporation, Denmark
Lene Juul Langballe, Director, European Choir Games Aarhus 2025, Denmark
Martin Öövel, Director General, National Library of Estonia, Estonia
Signe Pujate, Director, Latvian National Centre for Culture, Latvia
Vaiva Aglinskas, director, Namysto, Lithuania
Yngvild Beyer, Head of Section, Language Bank & DH Lab, National Library of Norway, Norway
Cooperation partners:
Guntis Šmidchens, Professor, University of Washington, United States
Achievements: