Contemplative chant is an ancient spiritual practice in the Christian tradition. While many lay people may think that it is a practice reserved for those in monastic orders, it is actually a spiritual practice that is available to anyone who prays. You don’t need to be musical or a monk to do it, and it can be enjoyed in communal worship or individually as part of a personal prayer practice.
Chanting the psalms is the most traditional form of this practice, but there are more modern forms of chant, including the very popular chant music coming out of the ecumenical Taize community in France. Taize is a monastic community of more than 100 Catholic and Protestant brothers. It was founded in 1940 by Brother Roger Schütz, a reformed Protestant. Music from Taize is sung widely in churches and small groups around the world, and the Taize monastery is a hugely popular pilgrimage site for Christians of all denominations.
Chanting, or meditative singing, is a form of embodied prayer. The whole body is engaged in this practice, which slowly brings the individual into a meditative place. The vibrations from singing and/or chanting help to open us up to a more contemplative, listening stance.
For more information:
www.taize.fr/en
For further reading:
Chanting the Psalms: A Practical Guide, by Cynthia Bourgeault