Community musicking

religiosity and culture in the IECLB

Abstract

Music has always played an essential role in preserving religious values and shaping the confessional identity of the IECLB (Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil). Since the arrival of the first immigrants, the musical repertoire brought from Europe served as a cultural and religious link that, over time, incorporated Brazilian and Latin American influences, becoming a vibrant and diverse expression of the Lutheran faith. Hymnals brought by the immigrants acted as significant cultural artifacts, reinforcing the connection with European traditions and memories, and serving as the foundation for the development of different hymnals in the IECLB. However, hymnals gain meaning and life when put into practice. This community musicking goes beyond liturgical singing, functioning as a practice that connects religiosity, culture, and community. It reaffirms history and memory, fostering a collective experience that is central to Lutheran religious practice. Music, as a collective practice, can be a space for resistance, artistic expression, and the experience of koinonia, strengthening community and religious bonds within the Lutheran church in Brazil.