Pastor remember me. I am in your congregation... ;-)

I find them too repetitive. They are ok at first, but become like Chinese water torture if prolonged.

My experience is that you're more likely to find Taize music and devotions in Episcopal, Anglican and even Methodist parishes than RCC's.

I did a beautiful Laudate Dominum and it worked quite well with just the organ. The children's choir did the drone while an adult lyric soprano did the descants and it was exquisite.

Gavin - Hah! That's exactly what I was thinking....
I did once go to a Taize workshop, but I was, like, ten years old. So I honestly don't remember much about how it is supposed to be done. My guess is minimal, soft instrumentation. But can it be done acapella?

Great minds think alike, Purple...

The purpose of a Taize chant is to meditate upon the text, so whatever you do in practice should foster that.

My own preference is for a capella performance, though I also accompany when appropriate to the setting or chant. I prefer to prepare variations (one part, four parts, Latin text, English text, instrument, accompanied, unaccompanied, altered harmony), and do each variation in a set of three - Trinity?

One thing I do enjoy about Taize is that one can make it heterophonic. Ask one part of the choir to chant the Latin while another does the English. Some hum, some chant. You can be as creative as you like, and it still works. I've even asked vocalists to improvise on it, with great effect.

Personally, I don't like Taize very much. I find it boring. But I do use it when appropriate for those who get something out of it.

Ton-ic set
up, whole step
up one half step ( minor!) then
pla-gal!
Five to four,
steps back down
Two's now sev'n and now we're in
MA-JOR!

That one drives me much more nuts than "Jesus, remember me."

When I use them, I go about it much the same way that MatthewJ describes. Quick and easy motet. Some can be good starter pieces for choirs.

Too many repetitions and it dies in the context of the mass, IMO. 4-5x and more might work best for confession services, adoration, processions(?), retreats, etc.

canadash, how did you have access to Taize pieces with text close to the propers?

What, pray, does Taize have that Vespers lacks??

Or, to put it another way: contemplate what Vespers has that Taize doesn't have!

Taize is pablum.
This may explain its populartiy, yes, even in Catholic and Anglican Churches.

I don't agree that Taizé music is "pablum." It's meant for a particular style of worship that is contemplative yet communal from beginning to end. In my opinion, it clashes with other music in a (non-Taizé) Mass because the whole contemplative mood and setting need to go with it: lots of candles, ample silence before and during the liturgy, retreat-like atmosphere. In a parish Mass it can seem simplistic, boring, or pointlessly repetitive, whereas in its proper context it can be very effective, affective, moving, inspiring, community-building, prayerful, evocative...

"in its proper context it can be very effective, affective, moving, inspiring, community-building, prayerful, evocative..."

Sounds good for Communion to me. Idea: Communion proper chant in Latin, Short motet, Taize chant, Hymn. Fills up the longest Communion procession!

Happy hour is here,
we're past the door.
Slosh it in the glass,
and put us on the floor.

I love Taize. Case closed. It's meditative, spiritual and easy to sing. I see no problem with using it as a communion hymn, or meditation hymn, and then come in at the end with a joyous and triumphant recessional. I also use it for Offertory (although I hate the idea of that hymn sandwich, so I play a lot of instrumentals here). If people are falling asleep during a long communion, then they have no idea what communion is all about. But, that's just my small, very humble opinion.

Gavin - I wish we had a long Communion procession. By the time we introduce whatever it is we're singing.... the procession's almost done! That's why I'm thinking Taizering them would be good because we could do the MatthewJ version... short, but very sweet. :-)

Taize is Protestant??? Oh my. Better tell that to the editors of the Catholic Book of Worship III, before they get working on number IV. (CBW III is Canada's "official" hymnal, brought to you by our friendly, neighbourhood CCCB.) CBW III is fully Taizered.

I'm really hesitant other than my little poem above to comment further in this thread, but Taize came down the pike via a GIA unveiling of the yellow volume without any of what we now call "vetting." And among its strongest proponents was the ubiquitous Sr. Toolan. It used Latin in addition to the English version of the Berthier "mantras" (which was also considered a marketing plus at the time.)
But the implication of a Catholic pedigree seemed quite strong at the inception, though accounts of Br. Roger's movement and, as Gavin says, monastic and ecumenical were publicized. Taize was soon at LAREC, NPM's, everywhere.
But we should look at whatever proportion of its influence has taken root in our parishes with new eyes and ears. If newly (or closeted) composed ordinaries, psalters, and propers are now subject to ecclesial review by the local see, then shouldn't other sources (explain how to me "Taize" differs from "Hillsong" in terms of ecumenical and ecclesial outreach) be subject to the imprimatur/nihil obstat processes?

Any one Taize composition is OK. Any two are too much. Mind numbing, IMO.

I also do not use a hymn board. The former director always made a big deal out of it...."the offertory song is "song, song", on page 56 of the hymnal. Please join the choir as we sing".....it used to drive me absolutely bonkers. When I took over, I found somebody to make a couple of beautiful wall hymn boards for either side of the altar, and told the people we would no longer announce. It's been so much nicer and the mass isn't interrupted so blatantly.

Taize music is quite nice and easy to render. However, I have avoided it mainly because in my own experience, those who use it have used it primarily to replace Gregorian Chant, which has been my first love for liturgical music. Since I cannot do Gregorian Chant in my parish setting, I am using the Simple English Propers and also the Meinrad Tones. They work well in our tiny parish in NW Indiana.