Customer Reviews

Peaceful services - By: Kurt Messick, 27 Feb 2005
Taize style music is very popular among college-age worshippers today, & our Centre for University Ministry regularly offers Taize services. The hallmarks of Taize services are simplicity, peaceful spirituality, & music based upon the chant styles of the Taize monasteryin France. Foundedin the aftermath of the second World War, Taize is dedicated to peace & ecumenical action.

Taize music is both simple & sophisticated. Brother Roger, founder of Taize, seeks to add a prayerful element to music, & a musical element to prayer, believing firmlyin the old dictum, 'those who sing, pray twice'.

The songsin this collection include melody lines for singers & chords for guitar or keyboard accompaniment. There is a CD that is available separately that will enhance the experience for groups, as well as serve as a guide for those who want to practice or sing on their own.

While many Taize chant tunes are adaptable to be sungin multiple parts, this book only has the primary melody line, without harmonic parts included. What is included, however, is alternate translations for many of the tunes. Some are presentedin French, somein Spanish, & somein Latin. The Latin is not due to Catholic influence as much as it a shared language among many people's linguistic heritage while no longer being anyone's first language.

This small book is a rich expression, wonderfully presented.