Jacques Berthier
Jacques Berthier's liturgical chants and songs, written largely for the Taizé Community, are built for shared singing: short, memorable phrases that hold across languages and large gatherings of worshippers.
Over nearly two decades he shaped a body of simple, repeatable church music meant for pilgrims and congregations rather than trained choirs alone. Clear melodic lines and ostinato patterns do the work, so the singing can settle and deepen. He also wrote organ masses and cantatas, yet the Taizé chants are the pieces that travel furthest, turning up in hymn books and choral programmes that set them beside Anglican psalmody and other worship song.
Compositions by Jacques Berthier appear on
Psalms
Psalms and chants from the Anglican and Taizé traditions, with two hymns, directed by Peter Chapman. Cantus Choro’s recording shows his love of Anglican psalmody, lively musicianship, and care for phrasing and words.
Sing Together Alleluia
Hymns sung by the Sing Alleluia Music Ministry Team, drawn from Sing Alleluia, appear in Together in Song: Australian Hymn Book II. The selection favours material not already on the earlier two-disc companion set.