If you are listening and work in pastoral music, you most likely have encountered Taizé music in your ministry. At the very least, I’m sure that most of you have sung “Jesus, Remember Me” at some point. Taizé is known for its simple, beautiful refrains sung over an extended period of time, with its focus on allowing the messages to sink deeply into our consciousness and spirit.
Taizé music has always been a part of my ministry. I remember ministering at a Taizé service when I was a teenager and, truthfully, I was so focused on the technical aspects of the music that I didn’t immerse myself in the spirituality of the moment and the people around me. But I looked up and saw this warm glow of light and holy presence in the space that I now recognize as that which I see at a Taizé service.
Taizé is a beautiful source of music, prayer, unity and community that it seems so right to explore the depth behind our human experience with it, as fellow pastoral musicians.
And so this month Ministry Monday offers a 3-part series about Taizé music. We begin the series with reflections by David Anderson, Editor-at-Large for GIA Publications and Director of Music and Liturgy at Ascension Catholic Church in Oak Park, Illinois.
David has visited Taizé, France, several times, and has led monthly Taizé services for years in his parish. He reflects about the depth and beauty of Taizé and how you can implement its music and spirituality in your parish.
SHOW NOTES
Bio- David Anderson
David Anderson serves as Editor-at-Large for GIA Publications. Additionally, he serves as Director of Music and Liturgy at Ascension Catholic Church in Oak Park, Illinois where he conducts four parish choirs of various sizes and age groups. Since 1992, David has prepared and coordinated monthly prayer services in the spirit of Taizé, which brings together hundreds of people from many Christian traditions at each gathering. David completed a Master of Church Music at Concordia University, and a Master of Liturgy and Ministry at Catholic Theological Union, both in Chicago. In more “normal” times, he is a regular presenter at conferences and retreats throughout the country, speaking in the areas of music, liturgy, the Community of Taizé and other contemplative prayer outreaches.
For more information about the Taizé community, visit taize.fr.
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