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The British Musical Biography

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BENTLEY.
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Works. — Oratorio, King Hezekiah (com-
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posed, 1886, produced, Harrogate, 1891) ;
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bacred cantatas, Laudate Dominum ; Christ
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at Nain (which obtained the £50 prize offered
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by Curwen and Sons, 1895) ; Cantata, Bott-
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reaux bells (1873) ; Six school cantatas ; The
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crown of roses. Summer holiday, etc., etc.
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Jubilee ode, Victoria ! Victoria! (1887). Ser-
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vices of song, anthems, school songs, etc.
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In IMS. are two comic operas. King Cophetua
In MS. are two comic operas. King Cophetua
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(produced, 1881), and Endymion (1883), and
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a dramatic cantata. The water nymph (1885).
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Organ music contributed to the " Organist's
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Quarterly Journal " and other publications,
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and hymn tunes in the "National Tune
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Book" (London : Patey and Willis), etc., etc.
6435:
6436:
Bentley, John Morgan 43-L-17
Bentley, John Morgan, composer and
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organist, born at Manchester, September 3,
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1837. Graduated at Cambridge, Mus. Bac,,
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1877 ; Mus. Doc, 1879. Was organist suc-
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cessively at St. Philip's, Salford, 1855 ; St.
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Stephen's, Manchester, 1860 ; St. Saviour's,
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1866 ; and of Bowden Parish Church, and
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Cheadle Abbey Church. During that time
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he conducted choral societies in those dis-
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tricts, and at Blackburn, Winsford, and
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Eccles. In 1881 he was appointed local
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examiner for R.A.M., and in the same year
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was made Provincial Grand Organist of East
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Lancashire.
6450:
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Works.— Oratorio, What is life? (1879);
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Dramatic cantata, Gethsemaue (1877) ; Can-
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tatas, Yuletide, and The Golden butterfly —
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the latter for female voices. Vesper canticles ;
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Psalter pointed, and Psalter chants (Hey-
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wood, Manchester). Symphony and other
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orchestral works in MS. Horse Sacrse, pieces
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for violin and pf ; The Two violinists, a
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series of duets for violins, with pf. accom-
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paniment ; Songs, etc., etc.
6461:
6462:
Benton, Alfred 43-L-41
Benton, Alfred, organist and conductor,
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born in Leeds. Began his musical career at
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the age of ten as a choir boy in Leeds Parish
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Church. His first instructor on the organ
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and pianoforte was Mr. Wm. Dawson, then
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deputy organist of the Parish Church. After-
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wards he became the pupil of R. S. Burton,
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and took lessons in counterpoint from W. J.
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Pritchard (a famous blind organist) and in
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composition from P. W. Hird. When four-
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teen years old he obtained the post of
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organist at All Saints', Leeds, and subse-
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quently was appointed to Windermere Parish
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Church, Arthington ; St. Mark's, Manning-
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ham ; St. Martin's, Potternewtown; and final-
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ly, in 1891, succeeding Dr. Creser as organist
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and choirmaster of Leeds Parish Church. Here
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he worthily sustains the high reputation
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gained for the services. In 1889 he was
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appointed organist of the Leeds Festival, a
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position he still retains, with that of chorus-
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master, since 1895. He has introduced many
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important works at the Advent and Lent

BERRY.
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services, including the Requiem by Brahms,
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Spohr's Last Judgment, and Bach's Matthew
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Passion. For years past he has been noted
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as a skilful conductor, societies in Barnsley,
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Morley, Bramley, and other places being
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under his direction. A permanent orchestra
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was formed in Leeds, in 1895, and a choral
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union also, the conductorship of both being
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entrusted to Mr. Benton, who now occupies
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a most responsible and honoured position in
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Leeds. He has also a high reputation as a
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teacher of singing, many of his pupils now
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holding appointments in English cathedrals.
6503:
6504:
Berger, Francesco 43-R-14
Berger, Francesco, pianist and com-
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poser, born June 10, 1834, in London, where
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his father, an Austrian, had settled as a
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merchant. Studied in Italy under Luigi
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Ricci and Carl Lickl, and at Leipzig under
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Hauptmann and others. Settled in London,
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1855. Appeared at concerts in London and
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the provinces as solo pianist. In 186S estab-
the provinces as solo pianist. In 1868 estab-
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lished the " Apres-midi Instrumentales."
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Was appointed a professor of pf. at the
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R.A.M. in 1885, and became hon. sec. of
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the Philharmonic Society in 1887. In 1864
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he married Miss Lascelles, contralto vocalist.
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His works include a mass and an opera ; the
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music to The Frozen deep (Wilkie Collins,
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1857) ; a Suite in G, and other pieces for pf.
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Cavatina for violoncello and pf. Part-songs :
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Poor and rich (Leslie's Choir, 1884), and
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others. Songs : Amor timido ; Fair, but
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fleecing; Only thyself, etc., etc. Author of
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" First steps at the pianoforte " (Novello).
6525:
6526:
Berry, Sarah 43-R-35
Berry, Sarah, contralto vocalist, born at
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Bamford, near Manchester, where, from her
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eighth to her seventeenth year, she was a
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weaver in a mill. She gained the Courtney
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Scholarship, R.C.M. , and pursued her studies
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under the late jNIadame Goldschmidt, having
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lessons also in declamation from Mrs. Ken-
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dal. She made her debut in Manchester,
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January 7, 1888, at a concert of M. De Jong,
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and at once achieved success. In October of
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the same year, she sung in "Elijah" at
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Huddersfield, and in that oratorio at the
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Albert Hall (Royal Choral Society), January
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22, 1890. She has also appeared at concerts
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in Birmingham and other places ; and at the
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Leeds Festival of 1895, created a highly
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favourable impression. She sang at the Nor-
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wich Festival of 1896, and is gaining a good
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position among the singers of the day.
6545:
6546:
Berry, Thomas 43-R-54
Berry, Thomas, organist and composer,
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born at Shepley, York, June 21, 1850. He
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settled in Glasgow about 1873, and has been
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a teacher and organist there ever since.
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Among his appointments may be named the
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organistship of Trinity Congregational Church
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and Bellhaven Church, Glasgow. He has
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also given organ recitals in Glasgow and in
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various parts of Scotland. Composer of
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various works preserved in manuscript.


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