Where does that tear-jerking, soul-wrenching, goosebump inspiring feeling come from?
In: Biology
There are two things here. First is the scientifically documented vagus nerve response humans have to choral music, which causes our heart rates to slow and improves our feelings of well being. This effect is increased by actually participating in the singing.
Second is getting chills or a similar reaction listening to music, not particularly choral music, which research suggests is related to pleasure centers in the brain. This kind of reaction is not universal (slightly less than 60% of people report experiencing it) and it can be associated with any kind of music. Some people get chills from death metal.
From an evolutionary biology perspective, because cooperation has always been vital to human survival and making music traditionally was a feature of human gatherings, it makes sense that people who enjoy and are motivated to participate in music would have a genetic advantage. Those bonds with their community could help them survive famine, overcome disasters, and improve the odds of their offspring succeeding, too.
If you are asking if other animals enjoy human choralsinging, as a whole, it seems not! The animals closest to us have been domesticated and bred with the purpose of emphasizing particular traits, and music appreciation is not one of them!
If you are instead asking if, for instance, coyotes get chills from listening to each other howl all together– that seems to be much harder to study!
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