Music of Unity and Peace
CD, ref.: T 400.
The disk Taizé – Music of Unity and Peace is the result of an unprecedented collaboration between the Community and the international staff of Deutsche Grammophon / Universal Music. The latter offered their experience and expertise to produce this album. The Community welcomed this project with a view to making its songs known to a wider audience. Those who have already taken part in the international meetings in Taizé will meet once again the atmosphere that touched them. Many others will discover a reflection of that contemplative prayer.
After the bells, familiar with visitors to Taizé, we are led into songs interpreted by a choir of young adults and musicians from different countries, some recordings made during the community prayers in July 2014, and also some psalms and responses sung just by the brothers. You will therefore hear on some tracks the choral singing of more than two and a half thousand people, whereas other pieces give a taste of the intimacy which envelops prayer in Taizé. The song “Let all who are thirsty come” is included for the first time in a recording.
“So many situations in the world need peace” says Brother Alois, prior of Taizé, in the booklet accompanying the CD. “But this peace has to come in our hearts. Peace does not mean we will always have an easy life, but it does mean we believe that peace is possible.”
Mark Wilkinson, President of Deutsche Grammophon, is pleased with this recording: “This special, emotional, touching music deserves to find a wide audience. Music can be an agent for change, and for dissolving barriers, and the unique qualities of Taizé chant are a testament to that.”
Songs:
1. The Bells of Taizé
2. Veni Sancte Spiritus
Come, Holy Spirit.
soli
Come from the four winds, O Spirit,
come breath of God;
disperse the shadows over us,
renew and strengthen your people.
Veni Sancte Spiritus.
Most kindly warming light!
Enter the inmost depths of our hearts,
for we are faithful to you.
Without your presence,
we have nothing worthy, nothing pure.
Veni Sancte Spiritus.
Come, kindly guest of the soul,
peace in our struggles,
rest in our labours,
breeze in the heat,
joy that dries our tears
and comforts our sorrows.
Veni Sancte Spiritus.
(Ezekiel 37:9 and from the Sequence for Pentecost)
3. Introduction: Seigneur, ouvre mes lèvres
(Psalm 100)
Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
O God, make haste to my rescue;
Lord, come to my aid.
Give glory to God, all the earth
and worship the Lord with cheerful songs;
go up to him with shouts of joy.
Remember that the Lord is God,
for he made us, the work of his hands,
his people and the sheep of his flock.
So come into his gates, giving thanks,
and enter his courts with songs of praise,
bring him thanks, sing praise to his name.
Yes, the Lord is good!
Yes, his love is for ever!
God is faithful, age after age!
4. Bless the Lord
Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.
(Psalm 103:1-4)
soli
(Psalm 103)
It is God who forgives all your guilt,
who heals every one of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave,
who crowns you with love and compassion.
As the heavens are high above the earth,
so is God’s way above our way,
so is God’s love for us.
As a Father has compassion on his children,
the Lord has mercy on those who revere him;
for God knows of what we are made,
and remembers that we are dust.
As the east is far from the west,
so far God removes all our sins
Now give praise to the Lord, all his works,
and bless the Lord, all his angels.
5. Laudate Dominum
Praise the Lord, all you peoples.
(Psalm 117:1)
soli
(Psalms 117, 66 and 150)
Every nation, praise the Lord;
and all peoples, praise his name!
For his love towards us is strong,
his faithfulness has no end!
Sing praise to God, all the earth,
and sing to the glory of his Name;
saying: all the earth adores you with awe,
singing praise, singing the praise of your Name!
Let the peoples bless our God
and sing to the Lord with praise;
for he restores us to life
and keeps us safe from falling.
Praise the Lord in the holy place,
praise the Lord in his firmament of power,
praise the Lord for the wonder of his deeds,
praise the Lord, his glory is supreme!
Praise the Lord with a trumpet blast,
praise the Lord with the harp and the lyre,
praise the Lord with the strings and with flutes,
praise the Lord with dances and drums!
Praise the Lord with resounding cymbals!
Praise the Lord with loud cymbals!
Praise the Lord, everything that lives!
Praise the Lord! Praised be the Lord!
Glory be to the Father almighty,
to the Son Jesus Christ,
and to the Holy Spirit, who is Love,
for ever and ever. Amen.
6. Response: Le Verbe s’est fait chair
(verses from John 1)
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
full of grace and truth.
The true light that gives light to everyone
was coming into the world.
To all who received him,
he gave the right to become children of God.
Out of his fullness we have all received
grace upon grace.
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son,
who is by the Father’s heart, has made him known
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
7. Beati voi poveri
Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.
(Luke 6:20)
soli
(Matthew 5:3-11)
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger for justice,
they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the clear in heart:
they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be known as children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for justice:
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
8. Jubilate cœli
Heavens and worlds rejoice. Christ Jesus is risen indeed.
9. Psalm 63
O God, my God, I seek your face at dawn;
my body is pining for your presence.
God, you are my God, I seek your face at dawn,
my soul is thirsting for you,
my body is pining for you,
parched ground, waterless and dry;
in the Sanctuary, I have adored you,
beholding your glory and power.
Your love is better than life,
my lips will proclaim your praise;
all my life, I would bless you,
my hands lifted up in prayer;
my soul feasting till satisfied,
joy on my lips, praise in my mouth.
When I think of you, as I sleep,
remember you all through the night;
you have been my help,
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice;
my soul finds rest at your side,
your right hand holds me safe.
10. Bleibet hier
Stay here and watch with me; watch and pray.
(Matthew 26:38)
soli
(Matthew 26)
My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.
Stay here and keep watch with me.
Sit here while I go further to pray.
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
11. In manus tuas, Pater
Into your hands, Father, I commend my spirit.
(Luke 23:46)
12. Surrexit Christus
Christ is risen! Sing to the Lord!
soli
(Daniel 3, Psalm 136, Psalm 118)
All you heavens bless the Lord.
Stars of the heavens bless the Lord.
Sun and moon bless the Lord;
and you night and day bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, stars of heaven;
Bless the Lord, fire and heat.
Bless the Lord, mountains and hills;
Bless the Lord, seas and rivers.
Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his love endures forever.
He provides food for all living creatures,
for his love endures for ever.
The Lord is with me, do not fear!
Give thanks to the Lord, he is good.
I shall not die; I shall live,
and proclaim the works of God.
God is my strength and my song,
for he has saved my life.
This day is the day of the Lord,
let us rejoice and be glad!
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for God’s love has no end.
Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, amen.
13. Gospodi pomiluj
Lord, have compassion
soli
For all who are witnesses to goodness and reconciliation,
O Lord, we pray.
For nations undergoing conflict and violence, for all those who work for peace,
O Lord, we pray.
For fairness in the sharing of the Earth’s resources among all,
O Lord, we pray.
For all Christians, that they may be witnesses to God who is communion,
O Lord, we pray.
For young people in difficulty, for the unemployed, that they may remain confident in the future,
O Lord, we pray.
For those who seek to foresee the risks of natural disasters and who support those in danger,
O Lord, we pray.
14. Aber du weißt den Weg für mich
God, gather and turn my thoughts to you.
With you there is light, you do not forget me.
With you there is help and patience.
I do not understand your ways, but you know the way for me.
(After Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
15. Song of Simeon
(Luke 2:29-32)
Be our salvation, O Lord, as we wake,
and keep us as we sleep:
and we will keep watch with Christ and we will sleep in peace.
Now, Lord, let your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples,
light for the whole world and glory of Israel your people.
Glory to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
both now and forever. Amen.
16. Jésus le Christ
Christ Jesus, inner light, do not let my darkness speak to me.
Christ Jesus, inner light, enable me to welcome your love.
(After St Augustine)
soli
(Psalm 139)
O Lord, you have fathomed me and know me;
you know when I sit down or stand; you watch as I work and as I rest.
If I take the wings of the morning, and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
even there your hand will hold me fast.
If I say: I will hide in the dark, let the light around me be night;
then the darkness is not dark for you, and the night is as clear as the day.
I give thanks for such great mysteries: a wonder am I, and all your works are wonders! _ Examine me, O God, explore my heart, and guide me on the eternal way.
17. De noche iremos
By night, we hasten, in darkness, to search for living water,
only our thirst leads us onward, only our thirst leads us onward.
(Luis Rosales)
soli
(St John of the Cross)
How well I know that fountain’s rushing flow, Although by night.
Its clarity unclouded still shall be: Out of it comes the light by which we see,
Though it be night.
The eternal source hides in the Living Bread,
That we with life eternal may be fed,
Though it be night.
This living fount which is to me so dear,
Within the bread of life I see it clear,
Though it be night.
(tr. Roy Campbell)
18. Ubi caritas et amor
Where there is charity and love, God is there.
19. Let all who are thirsty come
Let all who are thirsty come.
Let all who wish receive the water of life freely.
Amen, come Lord Jesus. Amen, come Lord Jesus.
(Revelation 22:17b,20b)
Music:
Taizé : nos 6, 7, 11, 14, 19.
Jacques Berthier: nos 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18.
Joseph Gelineau: no 9.
Russian Orthodox Liturgy: no 13.
>>> The CD is available in the shop in Taizé and in record stores in many countries. You can also buy it on-line [https://shop.taize.fr/music-of-unity.html].