Long before Europe imagined itself as a political or cultural union, music served as one of its earliest connectors. In the Middle Ages, people rarely travelled, literacy was limited, and communities were often isolated—yet melodies moved freely. Shared musical traditions built bridges where language and geography could not.
Chants that Crossed Kingdoms
Between the 9th and 13th centuries, Gregorian chant became a kind of spiritual lingua franca. Sung in monasteries from Portugal to Poland, chants created a sense of shared belief and ritual. While not framed as “peacebuilding” in modern terms, these musical forms helped people recognise cultural similarities across vast distances.
Choirs also travelled between monastic communities, carrying not only music but ideas. This movement softened tensions between regions and inspired early forms of collaboration.
The Troubadours: Medieval Messengers of Harmony
The troubadours of Occitania, the Minnesänger of Germany, and the jongleurs of France served as Europe’s first musical storytellers. They travelled freely across kingdoms, performing songs about chivalry, compassion, virtue and diplomacy.
Some troubadour songs pleaded for peace during the Albigensian Crusade.
Others criticised violence and praised just rulers. Through performance, troubadours circulated narratives that challenged conflict and promoted dialogue.
Folk Traditions that Connected Cultures
Despite incredible diversity, European folk music shares common themes: belonging, resilience, community. Whether in the Scottish Highlands, the Carpathian Mountains, or the Balkans, music structured communal life.
Cross-border folk traditions like the hora dance in Romania, Moldova and Bulgaria helped unify villages during festivals, marriages, and seasonal celebrations. These shared rituals encouraged social cohesion and inter-regional familiarity.
Music in Early Diplomacy
By the Renaissance, music became a tool of diplomacy. Courts sent musicians as gifts and performed joint concerts to symbolise peace. When Venice and the Ottoman Empire negotiated trade agreements in the 1500s, musicians often accompanied diplomatic delegations—demonstrating goodwill even during tense negotiations.
Music softened the atmosphere of diplomacy centuries before “cultural diplomacy” had a name.
Why does this matter today?
MyPEACE builds upon these traditions by using music to bring young people together across divides. The Middle Ages remind us that long before treaties existed, Europe’s musical exchange fostered connection.
Music helped people recognise shared humanity then and continues to do so now.
