CRIES – CRises Established Singing

The CRIES project is an EU funded transnational research initiative that investigates how collective singing has supported communities across the Scandinavian and Baltic regions in navigating periods of social crisis from the nineteenth century to the present day. Focusing on communal singing as a cultural practice, the project explores how singing can foster resilience, social cohesion, and shared identity during times of upheaval. At the same time, CRIES critically examines how collective musical practices may also draw boundaries or reinforce social divisions. The project is a Nordic–Baltic research collaboration involving the Unit for Song Studies at Aarhus University, the University of Tartu (Estonia), the Latvian Academy of Culture, and the Lithuanian Literature and Folklore Institute.

By combining historical research, ethnographic fieldwork, musicology, and digital methods, CRIES seeks to develop a nuanced understandding of when, how, and why singing traditions are mobilised in moments of crisis. Organised into a series of interconnected work packages, the project addresses historical developments, contemporary practices, and the aesthetic and social meanings of singing together. Through this interdisciplinary framework, CRIES contributes new perspectives on the cultural significance of communal song and its role in broader discussions of crisis, identity, and social belonging.

Role of Center for Humanities Computing  

The CRIES project is supported by the Center for Humanities Computing, which provides essential technical, digital, and data-related expertise underpinning the project’s research infrastructure.

CHC is responsible for:

• Supporting the systematic collection, cleaning, and organisation of research data across the project.
• Developing and maintaining a well-structured, sustainable database for historical and ethnographic materials
• Establishing robust data management and data governance practices to ensure responsible handling of research data.
• Supporting long-term preservation and future reuse of the project’s data and research outputs.

Official website: https://projects.au.dk/cries