Taizé Community: Ecumenical Chant Pioneers
An ecumenical Christian monastic fraternity in Taizé, France, internationally renowned for developing a unique style of meditative, repetitive chant used in Christian worship worldwide.Founded in 1940 by Brother Roger Schütz (1915-2005) in the small village of Taizé, France. Initially sheltering refugees during WWII. Evolved into an ecumenical monastic community of brothers from Catholic and Protestant traditions. Gained global recognition primarily for its distinctive, simple, and repetitive chants designed for communal prayer and meditation. Attracts tens of thousands of young pilgrims annually.
- Brother Roger, the founder, was stabbed to death by a mentally ill woman during an evening prayer service in Taizé on August 16, 2005, witnessed by thousands of pilgrims.
- Despite its monastic roots, Taizé music is primarily composed collectively by the brothers, not attributed to single composers, evolving over decades.
- The community pioneered large-scale international "Pilgrimage of Trust" meetings, gathering young people from across Europe and the world for prayer and reflection, starting in the late 1970s.
- Taizé chants often use short phrases from Psalms or other scripture, repeated in Latin or various vernacular languages, creating a contemplative atmosphere.