The British Musical Biography

[E] Bennett, Sir William Sterndale, com-
poser and pianist, was born at Sheffield, April
13, 1816. He studied as a chorister in choir
of King's College, Cambridge, under his grand-
father, John Bennett, and received subsequent
instruction from Charles Lucas, Dr. Crotch,
Cipriani Potter, and W. H. Holmes. He
studied at Leipzig Conservatorium under Mos-
cheles, at the expense and on the suggestion
of Messrs. Broadwood and Sons, during 1836-
40. He appeared in England as concert-giver,
1843-1856, and was an unsuccessful candidate
for Music Professorship at Edinburgh Uni-
versity, 1844. He married Miss Mary Ann
Wood, 1844. Founded (with others) the
Bach Society, 1849. Conducted the Philhar-
monic Society Concerts, 1856-66. Conducted
the Leeds Musical Festival, 1858. Professor
of Music at Cambridge, 1856. Mus. Doc,
Cambridge, 1856. M.A., Cambridge, 1857.
Principal of the R.A.M., 1866. D.C.L., Ox-
ford, 1870. Knighted, 1871. Presented with
testimonial, 1872. He died at London. Feb-
ruary 1, 1875.

[W] Works. — Op. 1, First Concerto for piano-
forte and orchestra, in D minor, 1832 ; Op. 2,
Capriccio for pianoforte, in D ; Op. 3, Overture
for full orchestra, Parisina, 1834-35 ; Op. 4,
Second Concerto for pianoforte and orchestra,
in E fiat ; Op. 8, Sestet for pianoforte and
strings, 1844 ; Op. 9, Third Concerto for piano-
forte and orchestra, in C minor, 1834 ; Op. 10,
Three musical sketches for pianoforte ; Op. 11,
Six studies for the pianoforte ; Op. 12, Three
impromptus for pianoforte ; Op. 13, Sonata
for pianoforte, 1842 ; Op. 14, Three romances
for pianoforte ; Op. 15, Overture for full or-
chestra. The Naiads, 1836 ; Op. 16, Fantasia
for pianoforte, 1842 ; Op. 17, Three Diversions
for pianoforte duet ; Op. 18, Allegro Grazioso
for pianoforte ; Op. 19, Fourth Concerto for
pianoforte and orchestra, in F minor, 1836-
1849 ; Op. 20, Overture for full orchestra. The
Wood Nymph, 1840 ; Op. 22. Caprice in E for
pianoforte and orchestra, 1840 ; Op. 23, Six
songs for solo voice with pianoforte accom-
paniment ; Op. 24, Suite de Pieces, for piano-
forte, 1843 ; Op. 25, Rondo Piacevale for
pianoforte ; Op. 26, Trio for pianoforte, violin,
and 'cello, 1844 ; Op. 27, Scherzo for piano-
forte ; Op. 28, Rondino for pianoforte, 1853 ;
Op. 29, Two studies for j^ianoforte ; Op. 30,
Four sacred duets ; Op. 31, Tema e variazione
for pianoforte; Op. 32, Sonata for pianoforte
and 'cello, 1852 ; Op. 33, Sixty preludes and
lessons for pianoforte, 1853 ; Op. 34, Rondo
for pianoforte ; Op. 35, Six songs (second set)
for voice and pianoforte ; Op. 36, Flowers of
the month ; Op. 37, Rondeau a la Polonaise
pour le pianoforte [1858] ; Op. 38, Toccato for
pianoforte ; Op. 39, The May Queen, a pas-
toral, by H. P. Chorley (cantata) for solo
voices, chorus, and orchestra, Leeds Musical
Festival, 1858 ; Op. 40, Ode, written for the
opening of the International Exhibition, 1862,
by (Lord) Alfred Tennyson, 1862; Op. 41,
Cambridge Installation Ode, 1862; Op. 42,
Fantasie-overture, Paradise and the Peri, for
full orchestra, 1862 ; Op. 43, Symphony for
full orchestra, in G minor ; op. 44, The
Woman of Samaria, an oratorio, for solo voices,
chorus, and orchestra, Birmingham Festival,
1867 ; op. 45, Music to Sophocles' Ajax ; Op.
46, Pianoforte Sonata, The Maid of Orleans.

[+] In addition to the above he wrote overtures,
The Merry Wives of Windsor ; Marie du Bois,
1845 ; A quintet for pianoforte and wind in-
struments, etc., songs, part-songs, pianoforte
music, and collections of chants, etc., most of
which have been published.

entry id: 42-L-19