Corpus Christi Choir To Perform Beethoven’s Ninth

By PRISCILLA GREEAR, Staff Writer

Published: November 13, 2003

ATLANTA—The traditional choir of Corpus Christi Church in Stone Mountain is joining voices with the Gwinnett Choral Guild and the New Atlanta Philharmonic to perform Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, “Ode to Joy.”

The concert to be directed by Eugene Lee will be held on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 8 p.m. at the Korean Community Presbyterian Church, 2534 Highway 120, Duluth.

Peppie Calvar, music director at Corpus Christi, is excited to have his choir join the New Atlanta Philharmonic, a professional Korean-American group, and the choral guild. They are playing their part to help bring back classical music into the Catholic Church, historically the great patron of the arts.

The musical genius Beethoven was born in Germany in 1770, lived in Vienna, and died in 1827.

“It’s a big deal when you hear of a Catholic church doing something of this magnitude musically. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is something even professional choirs sort of avoid like the plague because it’s so difficult,” said Calvar, also a graduate student in the School of Music at Georgia State University. His choir members “have the intense desire to sing beyond themselves and do this. I’m so proud of them. They are different ages and talents. They just love it. They have an absolute passion for music and praising Jesus.”

Calvar and other GSU graduate students Phillip Shoultz, director of the Gwinnett Choral Guild, and Magdalena Wor will sing a solo quartet. Calvar said the symphony speaks to him about camaraderie and praise of God. The piece known for its mystery and universality was first performed in 1824 and is recognized as one of the all time greatest achievements not only in music but for humanity as a whole. “You sing it in German. You have the words freude (friend) and brüder (brother) probably every four measures. It speaks volumes about ‘let’s all get together regardless of who we are, where we’re from. Let’s all get together and sing his praise.’”

“As American Catholics we don’t have to be complacent” and limit liturgical music selections to only contemporary works. “We’re so fortunate at Corpus Christi that our pastor (Father Gregory Kenny, CMF) has such a vision. He really pushes the importance of music in the liturgy. We’re the voice when he’s not speaking.”

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door or by calling the Korean church at (770) 939-4673. For information contact Calvar at (770) 469-0395, ext. 34, or jcalvar1@student.gsu.edu.