Bennett, SIR WILLIAM STERNDALE

Bennett, SIR WILLIAM STERNDALE, Mus.D., D.C.L., English pianist and composer, was born at Sheffield, April 13, 1816. After studying for ten years at the Royal Academy, London, he was sent to complete his musical education at Leipzig. He attracted the notice of Mendelssohn at the Düsseldorf Musical Festival, appeared with success at Leipzig in the winter of 1837-38, and was received with great applause when he returned to London. In 1838 he was elected member of the Royal Society of Music, and in 1856 became professor of Music at Cambridge. At the opening of the International Exhibition, 1862, Tennyson's ode, Uplift a Thousand Voices, was sung to music by Bennett. In 1868 he became principal of the Royal Academy of Music; and was knighted in 1871. He died February 1, 1875, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. His published compositions include a symphony, four concert overtures, the two cantatas The May Queen and The Woman of Samaria, and a few songs. But his peculiar individuality is best exemplified in his works for the pianoforte, of whose capabilities he was a great master; of these, the principal are four concertos and a capriccio with orchestra, two sonatas, and numerous studies. His music is characterised by graceful fancy and delicate finish in the minutest details, rather than commanding power or depth of feeling. His earlier works resemble Mendelssohn's, but a better parallel for the genius of his music generally has been pointed out in Scarlatti, his favourite master in pianoforte music. In his later years his creative activity was almost sunk in that of the teacher. Since his cordial recognition by Mendelssohn and Schumann, he has remained till lately almost the sole representative of English music at all widely known on the Continent.