LAUDATE DOMINUM

"Laudate Dominum" is a widely sung chant from the Taizé community, composed by Jacques Berthier. It is built on a simple ostinato—a repeating choral refrain—that allows the choir and congregation to settle into a deep, meditative state of worship. While the main choir sustains the gentle Latin and English refrain, a cantor floats above them with verses drawn from the Psalms, calling all nations and peoples to praise God.

In the choir loft, this piece is a wonderful exercise in listening and blending. Because the refrain repeats continuously, the singers do not have to bury their heads in the score; they can look up, breathe together, and focus on the prayerful mood of the music. It is especially powerful during Communion, Eucharistic Adoration, or Benediction, where the unhurried, flowing alleluias give the congregation time to reflect on God's enduring love and mercy.