CLEFNI stands for The choral life in the cities of Bern and Fribourg in the long nineteenth century. It is a research project that examines the choral societies of the period in order to understand their role in social and political life. The focus is on the participation of men’s choirs in important political events of the 19th century and in political life in general. The research also sheds light on how choirs contributed to the development of a sense of national belonging between the different cultures that make up Switzerland.

CLEFNI is led by Dr. Caiti Hauck at the Institute of Musicology of the University of Bern. From September 2019 to April 2023 the project was funded by the European Union’s “Horizon 2020” research and innovation programme through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).