Idea and Concept
Goals
The concept of the Choir of Nations was developed by Bernhard Furchner. Its aim is to promote encounters and exchange as a sustainable social innovation. Shared musical practice forms the basis for new experiences. In this new shared experience, everyone learns. Differences in languages and culture are experienced as enriching and full of potential. Something new is created.
- Enabling new and sustainable, multilingual, social (intercultural) contacts
- Motivating and enabling migrants to sing in a “Swiss” choir later on
- Enabling locals to approach immigrants and engage in conversations that go beyond small talk
- Creating recurring situations that demand and encourage joint action
- Opening up multiple perspectives on musical cultural assets
- Engaging in musical practice that triggers direct understanding and social connection
- Offering participation in leisure activities with non-discrimination and equal opportunities in public spaces
- Promoting sensitivity to the subtleties of the sounds of language
- Raising awareness for integrative aspects of musical practice
Contrast to Conventional Concert Choirs
The Choir of Nations is a form of active integration with public resonance. A concert choir is committed to the musical work and its music-historical tradition. The Choir of Nations is committed to people and their orientation in a multicultural, sometimes polarising and exclusive society.
Idea
A choir for everyone
- "Music is the mother tongue of all people." (Lord Yehudi Menuhin)
- "Music is an anthropological constant." (Prof. W. Müller, University of Lucerne)
Making music requires everyone involved to develop skills that strengthen social cohesion. Commonality and difference are not experienced as contradictory.
Making music improves the quality of life for everyone, regardless of language, culture or religion. We therefore make music in which everyone can participate.
A Choir of Integration
The different locations also prove to be full of vitality. Immigrant populations consolidate and make their mark. Their previous education, professional perspectives and generations of immigration give our choirs their own character.
Whether from a third-world country like Somalia or an industrialised country like Germany, the Choir of Nations offers everyone new contacts and professional and intercultural choir leadership.
Concept
The Milk Soup of Kappel
There is an example from Swiss history. At the end of June 1529, troops from Zurich marched against the cantons of Central Switzerland. According to reports, the common folk of the two armies fraternised while their leaders were negotiating. They put a large cooking pot on a fire. The people of Zug are said to have provided the milk and the people of Zurich the bread for a milk soup, which was then eaten by both armies together.
Music for Peace
This could be applied to our present-day culture: The ‘army’ of resident citizens in Europe makes their achievements available to music: composition, notation, the classical orchestra and the concerto. The ‘army’ of immigrants also contributes to the culture they have joined: their languages, their stories and narratives, their songs, their instruments and their voices. Together they shape and enjoy their joint works.
The result is a choir of nations with solos, choirs, orchestras, percussion and dance. And with the music they create together: music for peace.
