Choral societies and political power in the cities of Bern and Fribourg in the 19th century

Hauck, Caiti (4 December 2021). Choral societies and political power in the cities of Bern and Fribourg in the 19th century (Unpublished). In: Chigiana Conference 2021 “Music and Power in the Long Nineteenth Century”. Accademia Musicale Chigiana Siena, Italy. 2.-4. Dezember 2021.

During the 19th century, numerous male choral societies were founded in Europe. In some regions, authorities supported and even used such choirs as a means of promoting their political ideals, while elsewhere choral societies were seen as a threat to the regime. In the case of Switzerland, some authors emphasise male choirs’ liberal political position. Nonetheless, little has been written about the activity and the development of choral societies in different Swiss regions, for instance, in places and periods in which liberals were not a majority in government. What was the relationship between choirs and authorities in these cases? How did political developments and power struggles affect choral activity? This paper aims to compare and contrast the relationship that male choirs of the cities of Bern and Fribourg had with authorities from the 1840s until 1914. Based on primary sources such as letters, annual reports, members’ lists, jubilee publications, and newspaper articles of the time, it discusses the activity and the development of prominent male choirs of these cities in light of local and regional political contexts. Results point to significant differences when comparing choral societies in Bern and Fribourg and suggest that a network of influential choir members and supporters may have had a considerable impact on the choirs’ relationship with authorities. Implications for the understanding of the 19th-century choral movement in Switzerland and beyond are discussed.

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