A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/King, Charles

KING, Charles, Mus. Bac., born at Bury St. Edmunds in 1687, became a chorister of St. Paul's under Dr. Blow and Jeremiah Clark. He was next a supernumerary singer in the choir at the small annual stipend of £14. On July 12, 1707, he graduated as Mus. Bac. at Oxford. On the death of Clark, whose sister he had married, he was appointed almoner and master of the choristers of St. Paul's. In 1708 he became also organist of St. Benet Fink, Royal Exchange. On Oct. 31, 1730, he was admitted a vicar choral of St. Paul's. King composed several services and anthems, some of which are printed in Arnold's 'Cathedral Music,' and others in Page's 'Harmonia Sacra'; and there are some in the Tudway Collection (Harl. MSS. 7341 and 7342). Although his compositions evince no originality they are vocal and not without spirit, they long continued in frequent use in choirs, and some of them, particularly his services in F and C, are still performed. They have justified the joke of Dr. Greene, that King was a serviceable man. Six of them in all are published by Novello, besides five anthems. Hawkins intimates that his inferiority was the result rather of indolence than want of ability. He died March 17, 1748.

[ W. H. H. ]