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About the Composer
Saunder Choi
Saunder Choi Music
Verum Corpus (String Quartet Parts)
A transformative multi-movement work for choir and string quartet piece exploring themes of LGBTQ+ trauma, resilience, self-love, and chosen families.
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Verum Corpus
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Verum Corpus
SATB with string quartet
This are the String Quartet Parts.
Verum Corpus is a captivating and thought-provoking work for choir and string quartet that delves into the themes of transformation, resilience, and self-discovery. Inspired by the mythological tale of Caeneus from Ovid’s Metamorphosis as well as reimagining the sacred Ave Verum Corpus text, the work explores the experiences of queer and transgender individuals in the face of trauma and marginalization, while also highlighting the power of chosen families and love in finding freedom, self-acceptance, and attaining one’s “true body.”
Composer’s Notes
Verum Corpus is a multi-movement work for choir and string quartet, and sets the text of Amir Rabiyah on the story of transformation, completion, and attainment of the true body. The text is inspired by the story of Caeneus, a mythological hero from Ovid’s Metamorphosis. Caeneus was born as Caenis, a woman, who was abducted and raped by Poseidon. Caenis was so distraught, she demanded to be transformed into a man so that she may never be wronged again. Poseidon granted this wish, and gave Caeneus impenetrable skin. He went on to become one of the fiercest warriors in this mythology. In a battle with centaurs, Caeneus was struck down and crushed by tree trunks. He then transformed into a golden-winged bird and flew away.
Many of the characters experience trauma in Ovid’s Metamorphosis. Amir wanted this to be a poem that addressed that, drawing parallels to the experience of queer and transgender survivors of abuse and marginalization. More importantly, Amir wanted this to also be about how our chosen families love us, and how love can lead us to loving ourselves, and finding freedom.
While collaborating with Amir on this piece, I had asked them if they could incorporate the text of Ave Verum Corpus into the story. Given the conflict between the Christian religion and the LGBTQ+ perspective, I felt that weaving this traditional Eucharistic text into the story would be a poignant reclamation of the trans narrative and a recontextualization of the words “Hail, true body, whose pierced side flowed with water and blood” — offering a different commentary on these seemingly parallel narratives.
Verum Corpus is commissioned by the Windy City Performing Arts Center in celebration of their 40th year, and for the 2020 GALA Choruses Festival.
– Saunder Choi
Text
When we first met. We used no words.
Only the language of eyes.
How did you know me so quickly?
I thought you too beautiful for me,
But you cooed I see you, I want, I need
you are my world and that was everything…
You caressed the scars on my chest, the ones my father left
Soon, I told you: how he raised his sword and plunged it into me
how he screamed “You’re no son of mine, “
Hail, true body
Whose pierced side
Flowed with water and blood
I became a swan, flew into the heavens. Dropped down and found you.
May it be for us a taste of things to come
Once I was yours, I became what you willed.
You wanted a horse. I became your steed.
I shrank. I thanked. I’d plead. And thanked.
Who knew the toll this war would take?
The violence began again. An eruption. Broken plates. Bruises.
In the trial of death, you left me.
Strangers, coming home found me
Strangers sang my spirit back to me—they fed my light
Hail true body, which having truly suffered
Hail the body which returns to its truest state
In dying, I returned. In dying, I created myself whole.
– Amir Rabiyah
$24.00 per licensed PDF
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