Dr. King Talks About Handel’s Messiah

He was in the wrong place.

It wasn’t the sanctuary of the Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale where for decades he has directed the Chancel Choir and other church choirs as well as for “over-the-top” performances of the New Choral Society as artistic director and conductor.

But there was Dr. John T. King anyway on Wednesday evening, November 20th in The Clark Room in his full-time Minister of Music role for the church’s third “Kairos” gathering lecturing, not directing, about Handel’s Messiah, “often thought of as one of the greatest musical expressions of Christian faith ever composed.”

Prior to the event, Dr. King, a Ph.D. with multiple years of experience as a guest conductor for several American Guild of Organists workshops and choral festivals, as well as performing at other concerts throughout the United States and Europe, had said he planned to “discuss reasons why this music has become so popular and why it is loved from both a sacred and profane point of view. My hope is that this (the discussion) will bring (to you) an even greater understanding and appreciation during your listening of this annual classic.”

With the piano repositioned in the room for the event, and Church Member Steve Taylor, a bass of long-standing in the Chancel Choir and among the New Choral Society singers at the ready as his multi-media consultant, Dr. King didn’t disappoint the packed crowd in The Clark Room and many more from across the Village and around the U.S. on Zoom.

As the crowd, made-up of Hitchcock members, choir singers, visitors and Zoom attendees soon learned, Dr. King, with a bachelor of music degree from the University of Louisville, master of music degree from Yale University and a doctor of musical arts degree from the Manhattan School of Music, all in organ, is no stranger to the speaking circuit.

He has taught at Concordia College, lectured at the Scarsdale Adult School and often talked at the Scarsdale Woman’s Club, as well as a long list of out-of-town places about a plethora of music subjects.

He's a pro’s pro just as he will show once again with baton in hand directing the New Choral Society’s Messiah, Part of the First, on Friday, December 6 at 8 p.m., and again on Sunday, December 8 at 3 p.m., already a sell-out.

During Dr. King’s impressive and detailed 60-minute stand-up presentation without notes on Wednesday November 20, he explored the great work of the Messiah’s musical expression and biblical prophecy.

In addition, he discussed “Handel’s use of the sacred texts, how they were chosen, and some of the musical devices of the time, and how he used these to create what is often considered one of the greatest sacred compositions ever composed and the most performed worldwide at this time of year.”

Dr. King, literally a walking music encyclopedia in his particular area of expertise, also noted that Handel’s Messiah during the upcoming holiday season will be performed no less than 300 times in New York State alone.

Georg Friedrich Handel, who was born in 1685 and died in 1759, would have been more than pleased with Dr. King’s recent lecture and the magnificent versions of the Messiah performed at Hitchcock by the New Choral Society over the years during the holiday seasons.
For some it has always launched the holiday season. And always will.