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Taize worship

GallovidianGallovidian Shipmate
in Ecclesiantics
I've been a long-standing fan of Taize-style prayer and worship, ever since encountering it as a student at an international youth festival. After losing my husband last year and re-connecting with Church (long story), I made enquiries about Taize worship in the area, and, having drawn a blank, several people suggested 'why not start your own group?'. My minister and church session were very supportive - even though hardly anyone had heard of Taize - and made a room available, and we had our first meeting in Advent - just myself and a couple who are not currently attached to any church, but I have another 6 or 8 people who have shown an interest. Our next meeting is planned for the end of January, and then once a month.

Anyway... I was wondering if anyone has experience of starting up a similar group, and if so, if you have any tips for the best way to get things started? Any good suggestions for building up people's confidence in joining in with singing chants they are not familiar with?
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Comments

  • Raptor EyeRaptor Eye Shipmate
    I found that Taize worship worked wonderfully when the right pianist played, with sensitivity so that they didn’t stop playing too soon or too late.

    People naturally picked up the chants if they wanted to join in, but it was OK if they didn’t - somehow they embed themselves into the soul regardless. It was important that they had the words on the service sheets though.

    Candles and a lovely calm atmosphere were helpful as a setting.
  • Gramps49Gramps49 Shipmate
    The week before, I hope you will connect with the people who expressed interest to let them know of the upcoming Taize. It is kind of like priming a hand pump. At first you have to put a lot of effort in getting people to come regularly, but then once they are in the habit, it will be much easier to keep going with little effort.
  • GallovidianGallovidian Shipmate
    We have a Facebook group which I post to regularly - sharing Youtube videos of chants I am planning to use, or to fit special days, like Epiphany - and of course notify people of upcoming meetings - well in advance, and a couple of days before.
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    edited January 2024
    Raptor Eye wrote: »
    I found that Taize worship worked wonderfully when the right pianist played, with sensitivity so that they didn’t stop playing too soon or too late.
    Or the right guitarist. (Guitar being, in my experience, the standard instrument used at Taizé.). Piano has the advantage of duplicating the vocal parts, which can be helpful with a small group. Guitar has the advantage of intimacy and meditativeness.

    @Gallovidian, I’ve had some resources in the past on starting Taizé Prayer. I’m not sure I still have any of them, but I’ll dig around to see if I can find any.
  • GallovidianGallovidian Shipmate
    Or none of the above lol
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    I managed to get a regular monthly Taize service started at Our Place some 15 years ago, despite strong opposition from the then churchwarden (to whom the only proper service was a Mass according to the Roman rite - we're C of E!). The Parochial Church Council was generally in favour, although most never attended...

    The service continued for a year or two without ever growing in numbers - usually just 8 or 10 of us, including a couple from another church in our Deanery who had been to Taize many times. Music was provided by CDs of Taize chants (instrumental) played via my CD player or, later, by a laptop PC. Protocol was observed, and the correct copyright permission obtained for each event.

    Once a year, though, in the evening of Tuesday in Holy Week, we had a joint Taize Prayer with our next-door parish, the venue alternating year-by-year. Next-door's Vicar was an accomplished flautist, and her husband played classical guitar, so the music was *live*, and IMHO really enhanced the worship. One year, we even had our Diocesan bishop as pianist. This annual joint service - attended usually by 30-40 people - came to an end when next-door Vicar left for another parish...

    We didn't use Facebook in those days, but ISTM that that's a good way of keeping people in the loop. As @Gramps49 says, it takes a bit of effort to get started. and hopefully you'll find it easier as time goes on. We didn't find it so, but (looking back) maybe we could have done a lot more advertising.
  • SpikeSpike Ecclesiantics & MW Host, Admin Emeritus
    I used to attend a Taize group back in the 90s. It was very much a “thing” back then, but it seems to have gone out of fashion and I’m not aware of anywhere local to me that does it nowadays
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited January 2024
    There are several regular Taize Prayer services in the UK, including some in London (albeit not necessarily local to @Spike).

    https://www.taize.fr/en_article683.html

    There was once a monthly service in our Cathedral crypt on a Sunday evening. It moved to the nave for a while, during renovations and alterations down below, but seems to have ceased some time before the pandemic. I used to attend fairly regularly, and the usual attendance was in the 30s or 40s - quite a crowd in the crypt chapel!
  • GallovidianGallovidian Shipmate
    There seem to be very few successful Taize gatherings outside of London, except perhaps in some universities. I am aware of one in Glasgow and have come across a few smaller local happenings - there was a monthly one about 40 miles from me until the then Rector retired, although it was a little 'stale' - and a few churches that occasionally incorporate some Taize singing into their main services. But it does generally seem to have gone out of fashion since the 80s/90s whe I first encountered it.
    I was asked the other day if my group might be interested in doing something at an upcoming joint churches event in May to celebrate the Wigtown martyrs to help people to know what Taize worship is, which could be a great opportunity.
  • Alan29Alan29 Shipmate
    We have a service on Good Friday evening where the only music is Taize. It is led by young people. Its lovely to do something quiet and contemplative among the busy Holy Week liturgies.
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    Indeed it is, and I guess that there quite a few churches which hold the occasional *one-off* Taize Prayer, or, as @Gallovidian says, incorporate Taize chants into their regular worship from time to time.

    Alas! FatherInCharge doesn't like Taize music (he's not all that keen on silence in services, either :grimace: ), so there's not much chance of finding it at Our Place within the next year or two...
  • KarlLBKarlLB Shipmate
    We use Taizé chants during communion and occasionally at the beginning or end of the Intercessions. I hadn't realised that was becoming rare!
  • ArethosemyfeetArethosemyfeet Shipmate, Heaven Host
    KarlLB wrote: »
    We use Taizé chants during communion and occasionally at the beginning or end of the Intercessions. I hadn't realised that was becoming rare!

    I think that use is still fairly common - it's the dedicated service that has fallen out of use.
  • Alan29Alan29 Shipmate
    I would recommend a visit to Taize for those who can. To be among a congregation of several thousand people from many different christian traditions singing those chants in harmony to the accompaniment of a single classical guitar is a deeply moving experience.
    They keep each chant going for far, far longer than most other places until they recede into the background of your consciousness.
  • MrsBeakyMrsBeaky Shipmate
    Alan29 wrote: »
    I would recommend a visit to Taize for those who can. To be among a congregation of several thousand people from many different christian traditions singing those chants in harmony to the accompaniment of a single classical guitar is a deeply moving experience.
    They keep each chant going for far, far longer than most other places until they recede into the background of your consciousness.

    That sounds really special
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited January 2024
    Indeed. For those who are interested, but who can't get to Taize, some of their worship is recorded, and available on their website:

    https://www.taize.fr/en_article28227.html

    The Church of the Reconciliation is a huge space, but Taize chants work well in a much smaller and more intimate setting. Our Taize Prayer services were held in our Lady Chapel - it seats about 15, and has plain white walls, with several windowsills for the placing of candles!
  • Alan29Alan29 Shipmate
    MrsBeaky wrote: »
    Alan29 wrote: »
    I would recommend a visit to Taize for those who can. To be among a congregation of several thousand people from many different christian traditions singing those chants in harmony to the accompaniment of a single classical guitar is a deeply moving experience.
    They keep each chant going for far, far longer than most other places until they recede into the background of your consciousness.

    That sounds really special

    Oh it is. It has been the only experience of worship that has made me weep (much to the embarrassment of our three children.)
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    Alan29 wrote: »
    MrsBeaky wrote: »
    Alan29 wrote: »
    I would recommend a visit to Taize for those who can. To be among a congregation of several thousand people from many different christian traditions singing those chants in harmony to the accompaniment of a single classical guitar is a deeply moving experience.
    They keep each chant going for far, far longer than most other places until they recede into the background of your consciousness.

    That sounds really special

    Oh it is. It has been the only experience of worship that has made me weep (much to the embarrassment of our three children.)

    I don't wish to pry, but was it perhaps the sheer number of people that (partly) moved you so?

    There is something deeply special about realising - maybe for the first time? - that one is not alone in one's belief...
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    Bishops Finger wrote: »
    Indeed. For those who are interested, but who can't get to Taize, some of their worship is recorded, and available on their website:

    https://www.taize.fr/en_article28227.html
    They used to do podcasts—shorter daily ones and longer weekly ones—but none have come out in a while. I keep hoping for a return.

  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    The videoed services seem to be mostly Evening Prayer on Saturdays.
    Bishops Finger wrote: »
    Alan29 wrote: »
    MrsBeaky wrote: »
    Alan29 wrote: »
    I would recommend a visit to Taize for those who can. To be among a congregation of several thousand people from many different christian traditions singing those chants in harmony to the accompaniment of a single classical guitar is a deeply moving experience.
    They keep each chant going for far, far longer than most other places until they recede into the background of your consciousness.

    That sounds really special

    Oh it is. It has been the only experience of worship that has made me weep (much to the embarrassment of our three children.)

    I don't wish to pry, but was it perhaps the sheer number of people that (partly) moved you so?

    There is something deeply special about realising - maybe for the first time? - that one is not alone in one's belief...

    @Alan29 - it belatedly occurs to me that this was a very impertinent question. Sorry about that - please feel free to ignore!
  • Alan29Alan29 Shipmate
    Bishops Finger wrote: »
    Alan29 wrote: »
    MrsBeaky wrote: »
    Alan29 wrote: »
    I would recommend a visit to Taize for those who can. To be among a congregation of several thousand people from many different christian traditions singing those chants in harmony to the accompaniment of a single classical guitar is a deeply moving experience.
    They keep each chant going for far, far longer than most other places until they recede into the background of your consciousness.

    That sounds really special

    Oh it is. It has been the only experience of worship that has made me weep (much to the embarrassment of our three children.)

    I don't wish to pry, but was it perhaps the sheer number of people that (partly) moved you so?

    There is something deeply special about realising - maybe for the first time? - that one is not alone in one's belief...
    Bishops Finger wrote: »
    The videoed services seem to be mostly Evening Prayer on Saturdays.
    Bishops Finger wrote: »
    Alan29 wrote: »
    MrsBeaky wrote: »
    Alan29 wrote: »
    I would recommend a visit to Taize for those who can. To be among a congregation of several thousand people from many different christian traditions singing those chants in harmony to the accompaniment of a single classical guitar is a deeply moving experience.
    They keep each chant going for far, far longer than most other places until they recede into the background of your consciousness.

    That sounds really special

    Oh it is. It has been the only experience of worship that has made me weep (much to the embarrassment of our three children.)

    I don't wish to pry, but was it perhaps the sheer number of people that (partly) moved you so?

    There is something deeply special about realising - maybe for the first time? - that one is not alone in one's belief...

    @Alan29 - it belatedly occurs to me that this was a very impertinent question. Sorry about that - please feel free to ignore!

    It's fine. I will PM you.
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    Bishops Finger wrote: »
    The videoed services seem to be mostly Evening Prayer on Saturdays.
    That’s what the longer podcasts were—Die Lichterfeier (the celebration of light) on Saturday evenings.

    And having checked, it looks like those podcasts are still coming out; I just somehow got unsubscribed from them. I’m glad I had an excuse to check up on it!

    Anyone interested can look for the podcast Lichterfeier aus Taize from Domradio.de.

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