Journey to Taizé - 1 - O Lord, hear my Prayer

My first singing of Taizé hymns were as part of the university student church choir, Canticum Novum (Stellenbosch University, South-Africa).

These chant-like hymns, only a few lines of music on paper (not even covering a whole page and 20 years ago, copied off the Internet so badly!) was surprisingly gripping and versatile to perform. What amazed me the most, was that such a seemingly nondescript piece of song managed to convey so much meaning and feeling. I mean, look at it, some people might hardly call it music!

Meditative and chant-like in character, with repetitive melodic phrases and rhythms, there really doesn't seem much to a Taizé hymn at first glance. The words in Latin,* English or translated into my native language, Afrikaans, is easy to remember and can be sung off by heart. And by changing small nuances in articulation, tempo, dynamics or phrasing, a hymn's character can be transformed completely.

The fist such example which jumps to mind is "O Lord, hear my prayer". Translated in Afrikaans, "O Heer, hoor my bid". We also sang a second verse: "Die Heer hoor my bid!" (The Lord hears my prayer!). Singing verse one piano, moderato, with shorter phrasing (more breaths), makes it a supplication. It calls to mind Jesus on the cross. I can imagine that that was what He was chanting as He suffered on the cross and asked his Father whether He could pass over this cup.

Many people who have gone through trying times, seem to struggle to connect with God. I feel all of this uncertainly, longing, sadness, hope... in this first verse.

And then the joy of verse 2: The Lord hears my prayer!

I don't know... it brings tears to my eyes.

#CanticumNovum #Taize #LiturgicalMusicasritualsymbol