The Secret

John Prindle Scott (August 16, 1877 in Norwich, New York – December 2, 1932 in Syracuse, New York) was an American author, lecturer, educator and composer of art songs.

He was born in Norwich, New York, and was educated with private tutors in New York city and at Oberlin College in Ohio, where he was enrolled as a music student from 1896-1900, and moved to New York city before 1908. Later he was a voice teacher in Saginaw, Michigan. He was also known as a singer (baritone) and concert soloist. According to an article in the Syracuse American, "He had established a considerable reputation in concert work when he was forced by increasing deafness to turn to composition for musical expression."

For his 1916 setting of "Hymn to Nebraska," the state of Nebraska awarded him a prize in composition. He also won a composition prize from Ohio University. He became a member of ASCAP in 1928.

He spent a few summers in McDonough, New York, before purchasing a house there in 1922, calling his home "The Scottage". A couple of his songs and poems refer to the town, including "The Old Road" and "The Hills O' McDonough".

He spent time with relatives in Syracuse, New York, where he died in December, 1932

John Prindle Scott composed about 60 published songs between 1910 and 1930, including several prominent sacred works which have remained in the repertoire, especially "Come, Ye Blessed." Alan J. Ord mentioned "Come, Ye Blessed" as a good song for bass voices, calling it "ardent, with a flowing line". Scott's song for high soprano, "The Wind's in the South", is considered a "good teaching piece for young coloratura [sopranos]". His songs are typical of their time: dramatic, harmonically rich, and with full accompaniments. They often feature contrasting sections and a return to earlier musical material.