After more than 70 years of exchanging coal, steel, and fish in the EU, the time has come for a more soulful exchange: song treasures. The 1st EU Songbook was assembled - independent of the EU institutions - by the civil society over nine years. It is made for all who wish to exchange differences and share common ground, at home and abroad, via songs. To ensure both musical quality and broad representation, songs were first nominated by the music communities, followed by public votes engaging more than 87,000 citizens in the 27 member states. The result is 164 evergreens, six from each nation, grouped in six pan-European categories: 'Freedom and Peace', 'Love Songs', 'Nature and Seasons', 'Folk Songs and Traditionals', 'Faith and Spirituality', and 'Children's Songs'. Each song is presented for solo voice, with chords, and with lyrics in both the 25 original languages (spanning three alphabets) and in singable European English, side by side. QR-codes on all scores lead to original recordings, and a mosaic of introductions, crafted by 61 national editors, provides unique access to European (music) history through the centuries. The EU Songbook is intended for all song lovers in the EU, in candidate states or around the world: for good times and dialogue, concerts, education, festivals, diplomatic engagements, for firsttime conversations in a train or café, singing in the shower or on the street. And for singing on Europe Day, May 9th, the European “Dependence Day”. This pioneer project was awarded the European Citizens' Prize 2023 by the European Parliament.
