Instrumental Accompaniments from Taizé

These accompaniments were recorded in order to support people who would like to meet to sing and pray together using the songs of Taizé, but who have no guitarist or keyboard player, and are not confident to sing a cappella. However, the recording can also be listened to as reflective music in its own right.

It is characteristic of these songs that they are sung many times, so as to allow the words to sink in and become prayer.

This fourth instrumental recording, produced in 2021, complements the three previous albums from the years 2003-2010: it contains the accompaniments for 15 songs that were composed more recently, and three older songs that were not included in the previous recordings. As before, all these songs can be sung by a small group; the more complex songs requiring solo singers have not been included.

The guitar accompanies throughout; in comparison with the previous recordings, the clarinet, viola and oboe play a rather more significant role in supporting the melody of the song and in enriching it with different variations.

The recording was made in the in the English Reformed Church, Begijnhof, Amsterdam with musicians from the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra.