Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

This collection was recorded in the Church of Reconciliation by a typical Taize congregation of young pilgrims present for a week of meetings. The texts are mainly English with a little "Church Latin" to add to the atmosphere. The first part of the recording presents an evening prayer in Taizé. The second contains a selection of songs, several of which are intended specifically for the celebration of the Eucharist. The CD lasts 65 minutes and I was able to listen to it in one play on a car journey. I enjoyed it but by the time I had reached my destination I would have been hard-pressed to hum any of the tunes. Personally, I like my choral music listening to be more memorable. Likewise, as an occasional choral singer, I prefer something more technically challenging. But this music was written to be used in worship rather than performance and it succeeds admirably, hence its classification as hymnody. Indeed, some of the aims behind this release are to "encourage growth in our relationship with God and stimulate prayerful worship in our churches." So lots of squares as a worship resource though less if assessed for entertainment value.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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