‘Sing a song for the peace of everyone’: sacred music and social cohesion

The topic of this article is sacred music as an instrument for social cohesion, spiritual growth, community empowerment and bridging boundaries. How does sacred music function as an instrument for cohesion? First, the article presents a case study: a choir comprising people experiencing homelessness in Amsterdam and a collaboration with a theologians’ choir. Second, a research presentation follows on how choral singers experienced the absence of choral singing in the Covid-19 pandemic. What impact did the lockdown have on singers? Did the absence of choral singing influence their sense of community? The data reveal that cohesion takes place in three ways, which singers mentioned occur when they sing together: musical, spiritual and social. Musical cohesion occurs while they sing together. Singers also mentioned spiritual cohesion and the experience of interconnectedness. Finally, it reflects on choral music as an instrument for social cohesion.