The Music Of The Taizé Community

Taiz is a worship renewal community in France that has developed a style of music and Scripture song for all parts of worship. The article below introduces the community, its worship, and song. In a tiny village in the south of France lies a religious community that has become a focus of spiritual renewal of the young and a center of reconciliation among Christians. A young Protestant lay person had the vision of a community where one's denominational identity would not matter. What would matter would be one's ability to welcome the stranger and pilgrim, no matter who they were, in the name of Christ. Initially a refuge, sanctuary, and shelter for those burdened with the horrors of World War II, the community under the leadership of Brother Roger nearly a half a century ago began welcoming others who would help establish communion amidst division. Today people come from every corner of the world to irenic Taiz. Three times a day the pilgrims join the brothers in common prayer in or…