G
Guitar
Guest
I’ve played for and organised many Taize services - I like it, although as with anything else a church musician does, it is possible to have too much of a good thing if you have to play for them too often.
(Why do we have to “need” something for it to be beneficial, BTW?)
It isn’t for everybody - my H doesn’t click with it. for example, but then he has problems with any repetitive prayer, so it isn’t Taize-specific.
My only issue with Taize prayer is not the fault of Taize itself … it is a rather fragile creature and too many people ignore the guidance of those who created it and try to recreate “the Taize experience” at places and times where it just doesn’t gel.
The repetitive chant works at a Taize service where everyone knows what to expect, there is an atmosphere of stillness and everyone is tuned in to the meditative mood. I’ve never seen it work at Mass - those who don’t know Taize just seem to have a “huh?” reaction to the chant - they’re not “in the zone” and can’t work out why we’re singing the same phrase over and over. It works where the singing is in parts and a critical mass of singers makes it self-sustaining. I’ve been asked to lead it in gatherings so small there is no chance for harmony and where if I stop singing for a break, everyone stops. The guidelines specifically state this is not music that is “led” in the way a cantor leads, and where people try to do that or the service is so small that it happens by default, IME it kills it stone dead.
I think it is a wonderful thing for those who relate to it as a form of prayer and meditation, but too many people go to a good service, come away enthused but without understanding what makes it work, and in trying to recreate the experience produce some rather underwhelming efforts which leave other folks wondering what all the raving was about.
(Why do we have to “need” something for it to be beneficial, BTW?)
It isn’t for everybody - my H doesn’t click with it. for example, but then he has problems with any repetitive prayer, so it isn’t Taize-specific.
My only issue with Taize prayer is not the fault of Taize itself … it is a rather fragile creature and too many people ignore the guidance of those who created it and try to recreate “the Taize experience” at places and times where it just doesn’t gel.
The repetitive chant works at a Taize service where everyone knows what to expect, there is an atmosphere of stillness and everyone is tuned in to the meditative mood. I’ve never seen it work at Mass - those who don’t know Taize just seem to have a “huh?” reaction to the chant - they’re not “in the zone” and can’t work out why we’re singing the same phrase over and over. It works where the singing is in parts and a critical mass of singers makes it self-sustaining. I’ve been asked to lead it in gatherings so small there is no chance for harmony and where if I stop singing for a break, everyone stops. The guidelines specifically state this is not music that is “led” in the way a cantor leads, and where people try to do that or the service is so small that it happens by default, IME it kills it stone dead.
I think it is a wonderful thing for those who relate to it as a form of prayer and meditation, but too many people go to a good service, come away enthused but without understanding what makes it work, and in trying to recreate the experience produce some rather underwhelming efforts which leave other folks wondering what all the raving was about.
