Music for Royal Occasions

The New Choral Society, under the direction of Dr. John T. King, will present its season finale “Music for Royal Occasions,” on Sunday, April 29 at 4 PM, with a concert of choral masterworks composed for royalty. The concert will take place in the beautiful, acoustically acclaimed sanctuary at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church, 6 Greenacres Avenue, Scarsdale.

“Music for Royal Occasions” includes G.F.Händel’s majestic “Coronation Anthems” composed for the coronation of King George II in 1727. It was Händel’s  first composition as a newly naturalized British subject, having been granted citizenship by King George I as one of the last acts the dying king performed as the British monarch. The texts, traditionally used in coronations, are identified as early as 1685 at the coronation of King James II of England. The four anthems include: “Zadok the Priest,” “My Heart is Inditing,” “Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened” and “The King Shall Rejoice.” Still popular today as celebratory anthems, “Zadok the Priest” was sung at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II of England in 1953.

Händel’s familiar work is performed alongside Henry Purcell’s “Funeral Music for Queen Mary,” a stunning choral masterpiece which includes a “march” and a “canzona” combined with three funeral sentences: “Man that is born of a woman,”   “In the midst of life we are in death,” and “Thou knowest , Lord.” The complete work was first performed at the funeral of Queen Mary II of England in March 1695. When Purcell died in November of that same year , “Thou knowest, Lord” was sung at his own funeral. The texts come from the Book of Common Prayer.

The final royal composition is the magnificent choral drama “Te Deum for the Empress Marie Therese” by Franz Josef Haydn. The Empress, wife of Franz I of Austria, was eager to have Haydn write for her, though Haydn’s employer, Prince Esterhazy was loathe to allow his famous employee to write for anyone other than himself. Nonetheless, the Empress prevailed and the “Te Deum” was the result of Haydn’s efforts on behalf of the beguiling Empress, whom he said had a “pleasant but weak” voice.  This work is a rarity in Haydn’s late writing, as it does not use soloists, but rather combines the forces of a four part chorus and extensive use of trumpets and drums, making it perfect for festive occasions.

Tickets for the concert are: $25 – Preferred Seating; $20 – General Admission; $15 – Seniors and Students (General Admission only.) To order tickets please visit the New Choral Society website: www.newchoralsociety.org or call the office during business hours – (914)725-1678. There is plenty of free parking and the church is accessible for the disabled.