Published: Saturday, December 18, 2010
Everett church's Christmas tradition draws from history
The annual Peace on Earth concert is favored by parishoners and others in the county.
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John Sullivan leads the Peace on Earth Christmas concert at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church.
EVERETT — When 18th-century Jesuits established missions in Bolivia, they taught the indigenous Chi-quitos Indians to make and play violins, harps and even pipe organs.
Each mission had an ensemble that performed liturgical music. The Indian musicians were so talented that these orchestras rivaled those of Europe, said John Sullivan, director of music ministry at the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic parishes in Everett.
It’s from this history that Sullivan draws inspiration, at least in part, for the annual Peace on Earth Christmas concert. For 13 years it’s been a beloved tradition for the parishioners and others in Snohomish County.
“We are trying to promote a little peace,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan has worked in the Seattle Archdiocese since 1965 and in Everett since 1994. He also leads the parishes’ outreach ministries.
The choir is made up of about two dozen volunteers and the orchestra features musicians from the Everett Philarmonic Orchestra.
The free concert is planned for tonight. It will start off with “The Magnificat,” from the collection of music manuscripts from the Bolivian missions. The piece was written by an Indian composer whose name wasn’t recorded, Sullivan said.
“Those native people were so innately talented that they made instruments and many became composers themselves,” Sullivan said. Their names often weren’t recorded because they performed music for the sacred liturgy and for the honor and glory of God.
The choir also plans to perform the “Mass in Honor of Mary, Queen of Peace” by German composer Heinrich Huber, and five carols written by Sullivan himself.
He wrote “Christmas Maņanitas” in honor of his wife’s Mexican-American heritage. “Las Maņanitas” is a traditional Mexican birthday song you wake up to the morning of your birthday. In Sullivan’s interpretation, villagers sing the song to the newborn Jesus.
Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452; kyefimova@heraldnet.com.
Concert
The Peace on Earth Christmas concert is at 7 p.m. today at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 2617 Cedar St., Everett. The concert is free. CDs will be available for $20. For more information, call 425-349-7014.
Each mission had an ensemble that performed liturgical music. The Indian musicians were so talented that these orchestras rivaled those of Europe, said John Sullivan, director of music ministry at the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic parishes in Everett.
It’s from this history that Sullivan draws inspiration, at least in part, for the annual Peace on Earth Christmas concert. For 13 years it’s been a beloved tradition for the parishioners and others in Snohomish County.
“We are trying to promote a little peace,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan has worked in the Seattle Archdiocese since 1965 and in Everett since 1994. He also leads the parishes’ outreach ministries.
The choir is made up of about two dozen volunteers and the orchestra features musicians from the Everett Philarmonic Orchestra.
The free concert is planned for tonight. It will start off with “The Magnificat,” from the collection of music manuscripts from the Bolivian missions. The piece was written by an Indian composer whose name wasn’t recorded, Sullivan said.
“Those native people were so innately talented that they made instruments and many became composers themselves,” Sullivan said. Their names often weren’t recorded because they performed music for the sacred liturgy and for the honor and glory of God.
The choir also plans to perform the “Mass in Honor of Mary, Queen of Peace” by German composer Heinrich Huber, and five carols written by Sullivan himself.
He wrote “Christmas Maņanitas” in honor of his wife’s Mexican-American heritage. “Las Maņanitas” is a traditional Mexican birthday song you wake up to the morning of your birthday. In Sullivan’s interpretation, villagers sing the song to the newborn Jesus.
Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452; kyefimova@heraldnet.com.
Concert
The Peace on Earth Christmas concert is at 7 p.m. today at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 2617 Cedar St., Everett. The concert is free. CDs will be available for $20. For more information, call 425-349-7014.
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