Good Stuff
Taize singing...
Taize Vaults was an informal group that used to sing every
Sunday in and around Edinburgh in old vaults that lend themselves to
the sound of simple vocal harmonies. People came and went, but our group
continued over many years, sharing an affection for these cool, damp
ancient spaces which have wonderful acoustics for singing.
Sadly, the group has disbanded now. Roger Kelly of Penicuik was key to creating and sustaining the group.
Sadly, Roger passed away in November of 2020. He is greatly missed by the many people whose lives he touched.
If you're interested in starting up your own informal community singing group, please feel free to get in touch.
I'd be happy to share experiences of the Penicuik Taize Vaults singers, in hopes that might support another group.
Sings happened weekly at one of several locations:
Rosslyn Chapel Crypt, St Triduana's Collegiate Chapel, Seton Collegiate Church,
Crichton Collegiate Church and the Dunfermline Palace & Abbey.
Review of Penicuik Taize Vaults Singers Fringe Festival performance
Taize for your soul
Penicuik Taize Vaults singers at St Mark's
Taize For Your Soul was a musical event performed in yet another
central Edinburgh church I hadn't previously been in - the acoustically
magnificent St Marks. Taize, for the uninitiated, is an ecumenical
community established in north-west France in 1940 by Brother Roger.
Though often associated with the Catholic faith, and Jesus, Son of God
being a central theme to many chants, it was interesting to note that
some in the Penicuik group had Buddhist connections. The chants were
performed by a dozen members of the Penicuik Taize Vaults Singers, who
sing each Sunday by rotation in the ancient vaults of a half-dozen old
chapels, palaces and castles in and around Scotland's capital.
Surprisingly, the group rarely practises - they learn as they perform.
But very talented they were - delivering around 20 chants a cappella
or, occasionally, to the tones of a two-fret, 24-string baroque lute!
Taize chants are short, melodic and deliberately repetitive, and each
was followed here by a long pause for reflection and meditation.
Certainly the male and female harmonies were rich and appealing, but as
most of them were sung in Latin or Spanish, a translation sheet would
have been helpful. It was apparent, however, that most were refrains of
praise or prayer. I thoroughly enjoyed the music, as did my friend, who
knew several of the songs. But we both found the 75-minute experience a
bit long for a one-dimensional repertoire like this - there was no
movement and the lack of musical variety and ingenuity led to some in
the audience getting a tad fidgety well before the end of the show.
Clearly this group are best heard in an echoey underground stone space
- where, there's no doubt, their gorgeous tones can be shown off to
greatest effect.
--Tom Lennie, Crossrhythms.co.uk, 13 Sept 2006
