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Permission for use of the songs of Taizé

Is permission needed to sing the songs of Taizé in worship?

No. Anyone may sing the songs of Taizé for public or private prayer.

Is permission needed to make copies of the songs of Taizé on paper, or display them using overhead projection or beaming?

Normally, permission is needed. For non-commercial copying or display, please contact:

in the UK, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand: OneLicense onelicense.net, who can also give licences for the streaming and podcasting of prayer services.

in France, Switzerland, Belgium: SECLI.

in Germany, Austria, Switzerland: VG Musikedition, Friedrich-Ebert-Str. 104, 34119 Kassel, Tel: +49 561 109656-0

in the Netherlands and Belgium: Uitgeverij Gooi en Sticht, Postbus 13288, 3507 LG UTRECHT, Nederland.

For other countries, for any kind of commercial project, or if there are any questions or difficulties with the above, please write to us at [email protected].

Is permission needed to record a church or prayer group singing the songs of Taizé in worship?

On condition that no changes are made to the words or music of the songs, permission is not required for this. But if the recording is to be sold or if it is to be used in a film, there are some special conditions that have to be fulfilled: please write to us at [email protected]. (Please note that we cannot normally give permission for the inclusion of Taizé songs in films unless the film is connected with Taizé in some specific way.)

Is permission needed to use existing recordings of Taizé songs in public?

The four Instrumental recordings produced by Taizé are designed to support prayer in small groups or in public worship, and no permission is needed to use them.

Onelicense can give licences for playing other Taizé recordings during public worship.

For other public use of Taizé recordings, please contact us at [email protected].

Can I make new arrangements of the songs of Taizé?

The simple answer is no. We are not able to give permission for the creation of modified versions of the songs.

This is because we want the songs of Taizé to remain what they are, keeping their characteristic simplicity and contemplative style, to help very diverse groups and individuals to enter into prayer with a meditative dimension.

This means no arrangements, no new versions, cover versions, altered texts or alternative translations, no versions in new styles, no new compositions based on songs from Taizé, no incorporation of songs from Taizé into other musical or artistic works….

The songs of Taizé were created in order to help people to pray together by singing in a contemplative way and so to enter more deeply into a communion with God. For this to be possible, it is best to sing the songs with the same simplicity as in Taizé. In this way, the individuals, groups or parishes can discover at the same time the song itself, and the prayer it expresses.

There is a profound relation between the musical phrase and these few words that are sung “to infinity”. This long repetition of the same song is linked to a very ancient way of praying, including, for example, the Rosary in the West and the Jesus Prayer in the Eastern Churches. The Community wishes to preserve these characteristics of the songs.

The final version of each song is published only at the end of a long period of work by the composers and the authors, relying on the experience of the prayer at Taizé. Through this, each song has its unity and its style. This joint effort is closely linked to the Community’s ministry among young people and the ongoing search for a form of prayer that is accessible to a large number of people in the meetings, both at Taizé and elsewhere.

Moreover, many people first hear about the Taizé Community through the songs. So we feel it is important, in order not to give a misleading idea about Taizé and the meetings here, that when the songs are used elsewhere, the way they are sung is not too different from how they are sung at Taizé.

We also hope that the songs of Taizé can be a point of unity and that people who are used to singing them in one parish, for example, may easily be able to join in when they find the same song being sung in a different place.

We sometimes receive requests to accept modifications to the songs: adaptations, arrangements, new instrumental accompaniments, new words or new translations. However justified these changes might seem at first, if they were accepted, we would soon see the emergence of multiple versions of many of the songs, some of them quite far from the original. The Community wishes to avoid this situation. It seems essential to let the Taizé songs live “as they are”, in their simplicity and their original authenticity, as bearers of a prayer that is very simple and meditative.

For these reasons the Community authorises the reproduction of only the original versions of the songs, or the official translations, as they appear in the books published by Taizé or by the authorised publishers in each country.

Is permission needed to translate songs of Taizé?

We are happy that the songs of Taizé are sung in many languages. It is important for us that there is only one translation of each song in every language: in this way, the songs can be a point of unity between different groups of believers. The official translations are decided on after a long process of trial and discussion. To help us coordinate the process of translating in different languages, please contact us in advance if you would like to propose any translations.

Permission for use of texts

The texts of the articles on this website may be freely copied and distributed non-commercially on paper, for example in parish newsletters, but only if the source is quoted, with the following copyright notice: “copyright © Ateliers et Presses de Taizé, 71250 Taizé, France.”

For online use of texts from this website, or for inclusion in other publications, particularly any project that directly or indirectly has a commercial purpose, written permission is required. Please contact [email protected] .

Likewise, permission is required for the reproduction of extracts from books or other products published by Ateliers et Presses de Taizé.

Images, graphics, videos, sound files from the website

Except where otherwise indicated, to copy or distribute any other elements from this site (including images, video, graphics or sound files) in any form, permission is required. Please contact us at [email protected].

Icons and stained-glass windows

For any reproduction of icons or stained-glass windows from the Church of Reconciliation or other places at Taizé, please contact us in advance at [email protected].

The name “Taizé”, the dove-cross symbol

The name “Taizé” and the dove-cross symbol are registered as trademarks/service marks of Ateliers et Presses de Taizé. Except for phrases such as “prayer with songs from Taizé”, they may not be used for any products or services without permission. For more information, contact [email protected].