XXV. Cantat Bis Orat, Part Two – Prayer in Song, Not Just for 17- to 30-Year-Olds

I had heard and read about Taizé many years ago, even before I had set foot in France.  I knew that it was somewhere in Burgundy, and had made vague plans to visit it, but with increasingly heavy schoolwork and dwindling finances as a self-sponsored graduate student living at the fringes of hyper-expensive Paris, never got around to doing so.  My opportunity finally came a couple of years ago, when on a road trek through the Land of the Frogs, I took the TGV (French bullet train) and a wide variety of other means of transport besides to wind up in the eponymous little village where, since the 1940’s, a maverick group of modern monks have set up shop and attracted millions of young pilgrims from all over.

But this isn’t yet another akyat-bahay chronicle – the full story of my visit and all my touristic photos are probably best left for another time.  In reality, many millions more have never set foot in the place, but still live out the Taizé experience daily – and it will be interesting to find out why.

So here’s the background: In 1940 a young Swiss guy named Roger Louis Schütz-Marsauche came to what was then a near-abandoned village in Burgundy, where his mother was from.  He had initially set out to offer refuge to Jews fleeing the Nazis, but a few years later evolved his mission to set up a full-fledged monastic community, with, unusually, brother-monks from various Christian traditions and denominations – ecumenical before it was fashionable.  And consistent with the monastic tradition, they practiced a daily liturgy of community worship, which consisted not only of recited prayers and meditative silence, but also one of the most appealing portfolios of modern religious music yet composed.

This is then what initially attracts young people to Taizé – good music will always be broadly attractive, but it will be especially so to younger ears.  Each week, even in the dead of winter, busloads of 17- to 30-year-old pilgrims (including many groups from the Philippines , I was told) converge on the little village, which thankfully is extremely well set-up to take the deluge.  In summer, the place is a virtual World Youth Day camp, and it will not be surprising that Pope John Paul II supposedly got the idea for those annual gatherings from his many visits to Taizé – the former Karol Wojtyla and its founder Brother Roger were long-time friends.

Not only has the whole world set out for Taizé – but Taizé has also gone out to the world.  This refers not only to the fact that a Taizé song has probably been sung at least a few times in your own parish church even without your knowing it, but that the brothers of the Community actually work as missionaries in various corners of the earth.  Even predominantly Christian Philippines is not spared – as we will now see.

Taizé: Nabuhay si Kristo

One of the unusual characteristics of Taizé music is that it lends itself very easily to translation in any number of languages.  No doubt this is because most of the songs consist only of a few repeated lines, many of them frequently quoted passages from Scripture, whose meaning is already widely-understood and can, after minor adjustments to match up with the musical notes, be expressed in the local language.  It will not be suprising that Pilipino (actually both Tagalog and Cebuano, and maybe some other Philippine languages also) is one of those “official” Taizé languages, as demonstrated in a recording made in the College Chapel of the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Guiguinto, Bulacan in 1994.

This recording, made in collaboration with visiting brothers of the Taizé Community, assembled not only the resident seminarians but also four congregations of nuns in the vicinity, as well as vocalists and instrumentalists from Manila, Baguio, and Pampanga.  The first track, “Purihin ang Ating Diyos,” is a direct translation of an old Taizé staple, “Laudate Dominum,” which is Latin for the same thing.

"Purihin ang Ating Diyos" demonstrates at least three features of Taize music: (1) A repetitive mantra-like refrain or chorus, which allows for meditation and reflection; (2) Interjectory verses sung by alternating soloists, often simultaneously with the chorus, which provide additional points for contemplation; and (3) Flexibility and variety in musical scoring, making use of whatever instruments are on hand. In this track, we hear not only chordal rhythm guitars providing the usual musical base, but also plucked guitars, flutes, violins, and an unmistakable bandurria ensemble (only in the Philippines?) playing melodic variations according to the Taizé style book.

Purihin ang Ating Diyos

Purihin ang ating Diyos

Purihin ang ating Diyos

Lahat ng tao, Alleluia

Laudate Dominum

Laudate Dominum

Omnes gentes, Alleluia

The title track from this album, “Nabuhay si Kristo,” is a direct translation of another Taizé workhorse, “Surrexit Christus.”  Consistent with the Taizé practice of polyglot singing, a couple of its soloist verses are in Cebuano.  More importantly, the track demonstrates the same three musical characteristics as identified in “Purihin ang Ating Diyos,” but with a couple of interesting twists: the soloist verses not only unusually open the song and come before the chorus, but even more unusually are “sliced-and-inserted” into it.

Nabuhay si Kristo

(First part of soloist’s verse)

(Chorus:) Nabuhay si Kristo, Alleluia

(Second part of soloist’s verse)

(Chorus:) Umawit sa ating Diyos, Alleluia

(First part of soloist’s verse)

(Chorus:) Surrexit Christus, Alleluia

(Second part of soloist’s verse)

(Chorus:) Cantate Domino, Alleluia

There are a great many Taizé recordings (and even videos and books) already published, but of those that I have listened to, the best has to be one made right in the Community’s own Church in 2001, with the young pilgrims who happened to be in residence at that time.

Taizé: Venite Exultemus

I picked this one up at the thoughtfully-provided gift shop during my visit to the Community in 2005, and while it wasn’t exactly the least expensive CD that I purchased during those two weeks in France, it certainly provided me extremely good value-for-money, as I have played it several times over since then.  Not only does it contain some of the newer songs in their repertoire, but its excellent recording engineering of the live sound of youthful voices and talented young instrumentalists also conveys the Taizé spirit exceptionally well, in my mind.

The first selection from this album, “El Alma que Anda en Amor,” uses a famous quote from San Juan de la Cruz (1542-1591), the great Spanish Carmelite reformer and close associate of Santa Teresa de Avila.  He said, “The soul filled by love neither tires others, nor grows tired itself.” I guess only a 16th century mystic could have come up with that one.  The soloist verses are in a wide variety of languages, including German, French, and Italian.

El Alma que Anda en Amor

El alma que anda en amor

Ni cansa ni se cansa

“The Kingdom of God” is a perfect demonstration of the Taizé song for meditation.  It consists only of one chorus block, with no soloist verses, and its repetition over the course of several minutes affords the opportunity for deep spiritual reflection.  And for those more easily distracted like myself, it features very inventively-written accompaniment parts for instrumental soloists, including a plucked guitar, an oboe, flutes, a trumpet, a clarinet, a horn, a bassoon, and various combinations of these.  

The Kingdom of God

The kingdom of God is justice and peace

And joy in the Holy Spirit

Come, Lord, and open in us

The gates of your kingdom

Since we’re in France , it would be negligent of us to omit the beautiful but complicated language of the Franks and Gauls. “Qui regarde vers Dieu resplendira” conveys a mysterious and mystical sound and message using Psalm 34, with interjectory verses in French, Portuguese, English, and German, and a beautiful plucked guitar accompaniment.

Qui regarde vers Dieu resplendira

Qui regarde vers Dieu resplendira

Sur son visage, Plus d’amertume

Sur son visage, Plus d’amertume

Look to God and you will shine

All bitterness gone from your face

All bitterness gone from your face

Since we’re well into Lent by now, “In manus tuas, Pater” from Luke 23:46 is an appropriate reflection, in the usual Taizé-style four-part choral block for reflective repetition (or is it repetitive reflection?).  The beautiful four-part harmony with strummed chordal guitar accompaniment is well-complemented by very engaging instrumental soloist parts: a plucked guitar, an oboe, a clarinet, recorders (hey, I can play those!), a cello, and a flute.

In manus tuas Pater

In manus tuas, Pater

Commendo spiritum meum

Into your hands, Father

I commend my spirit

Over the past two decades, Taizé has also become a spiritual refuge for young people from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet block.  The repertoire has thus expanded appropriately to include musical and spiritual traditions from Eastern Christianity.  “Alleluia, slava tiebie Boze!” is among the best of this type.  Without any instrumental accompaniment, it makes use of exceedingly simple but powerfully effective four-part choral harmony in the style of the Eastern churches.

This would make for great congregational singing even in the Philippines, and would be a good alternative to the usual sung or recited Alleluia verses before the Gospel – just replace the line “slava tiebe Boze” with something in Pilipino or English that fits the notes.  And make sure that your priest or cantor-commentator can intone that solo “Alleluia” line at the beginning well enough!

Alleluia, slava tiebie Boze!

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

Slava tiebie Boze!

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

Glory be to you, O God!

My favourite track of all on “Venite Exultemus” is “Gott ist nur Liebe.”  Like some of the others, it is a simple choral block for meditative repetition.  However, more than in any of the rest, I feel that this piece effectively combines a fundamental Christian tenet in its lyric with not only a simple main melody and a great choral harmony, but also painfully beautiful instrumental variations from a bassoon, a plucked guitar, a pair of oboes, a horn, and a clarinet.   Like many Taizé songs, this piece has been translated into several other languages, including English, so we may want to sing along:

Gott ist nur Liebe

Gott ist nur Liebe

Wagt, für die Liebe alles zu geben

Gott ist nur Liebe

Gebt euch ohne Furcht

(Translation:)

God is nothing but love

Dare to give all for love

God is nothing but love

Give yourselves without fear

(English sung lyric:)

God is forgiveness

Dare to forgive and God will be with you

God is forgiveness

Love and do not fear

The Challenge

Taizé music is used in churches all around the world, even in the Philippines.  It is tuneful and attractive to listen to and thus easy to sing along to also.  The musical scores are available for purchase on the internet, and Taizé’s own website even provides free multimedia teaching aids online for tone-deaf choir members to polish up their individual sung parts so as not to make a total mess of it.

A creative challenge would be to take one of the hundred-odd Taizé pieces and translate them into Pilipino or English, if it has not been done yet.  (A few ARE already in Pilipino, but more could be, I’m sure.) Then teach your own choir or congregation how to sing it, and voilà! (that’s French too), you have a new song from Taizé for use in Sunday Mass.

Even better, since the Taizé musical characteristics aren’t all that esoteric, as we’ve seen and heard, why not re-apply them?  Take a simple text, perhaps from Holy Scripture, set it to an appealing melody, give it a simple harmony, and make the whole thing work beautifully enough for repetition without sounding like a drone (as someone recently told me), and voilà!  (there the French go again), you have a Taizé-style piece that is nonetheless original and home-grown.

What about it, young musical Filipinos?

Originally published 24 February 2007.  Copyright ©2007 by Leo D Cloma. The moral right of Leo D Cloma to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted. Musical examples are owned by their respective copyright holders and are used only for review and demonstration purposes.

Original comments:

puyat1981 wrote on Feb 25, '07 I spent a summer in Taize months before Bro. Roger got killed. It was a blessed experience with the community. There are Taize communites here in Manila; one at EDSA Shrine, the other at Pope Pius Catholic Center in Paco - i hope you can join us for prayers.

rally65 wrote on Feb 25, '07 Hey, that's great -- were you with a Filipino group that summer or did you go alone? I was there too in April 2005, but stayed only a day since I was over the age limit. ;-( [Coincidentally, the day I was at Taize was also when the election of Joseph Ratzinger as Benedict XVI was announced.] In your Taize Community in Manila, do you use only the songs in the "Nabuhay si Kristo" album (and perhaps their English or Latin equivalents), or do you also use some of the newer ones, like "God is Forgiveness" ("Gott ist nur Liebe")? I really like that one -- isn't it obvious? ;-) I wonder if that has been translated into Tagalog already.

puyat1981 wrote on Feb 25, '07 tatlo lang kami. I went there after I asked dispensation from my vows. Okay naman yung community doon kaso parang di sila sanay maligo (hehe) nasan ka ba ngayon? I know sa EDSa Shrine and Pope Pius they use tagalog. Sa group ko (7 lang kami) we use english kasi it's more convenient to use.

arwin0313 wrote on Mar 22, '07 being an active youth leader in my parish. it is my dream to visit taize, france.

rally65 wrote on Mar 22, '07 Keep working on that dream! It's a great place to spend a week or two with your youth group members -- while you are still young.

clifford4 wrote on Apr 28, '07 I was in Taize several times and I really like this place, there feel unity with all Christians from all over the world and in every Christ

otsopya wrote on May 11, '07 hmm astig po talaga ang taize experience... galing me dun dec 06 to feb 07, kumbaga malamig lamig pa hehehe (dahil sa yelo). may balita pong magkakaruon ng malaking meeting ang taize sa manila come 2009, some brothers will be back on september this year.

rally65 wrote on May 11, '07 Oh, that would be great if it happens!

warintan wrote on Jun 7, '07 I visited Taize for a week on May 2007. It was wonderful moment. I wish someday, i can come back and sit down on the temple again (my favourit place)

otsopya wrote on Jan 8, '08 update update 2010 na lang pala ang meeting sa manila... paano kasi... mukhang may Asian Youth Day na host din ang Pinas on 2009, mahirap naman pag sabay na taon daw kasi isa lang ang organizer... hays 2 more years pero mabilis lang ang taon. natuloy yung dalawang brothers dito nung september, last update would be babalik sila by feb of this year, nagiikot sila sa Pinas, pati yung mga non-catholic churches to prepare for the meeting on 2010, as it is hindi pa rin kasi well known ang taize sa bansa... ^_^ sana andito ka na by then hehehe...