The British Musical Biography

[E] Benson, John Allanson, composer,
organist and teacher, born near Ripley,
Yorkshire, February 8, 1848. Connected with
the family of the late Archbishop of Canter-
bury. He was intended, by his father, for
an architect, but his love for music ultimately
prevailed, and he adopted ihe art as his pro-
fession. He received his earliest instruction
as a choir boy after the removal of his family
to Harrogate, and afterwards became con-
ductor of the local Philharmonic Society.
As organist, teacher, lecturer, and composer,
he is a prominent and busy figure in musical
life at Harrogate.

[W] Works. — Oratorio, King Hezekiah (com-
posed, 1886, produced, Harrogate, 1891) ;
bacred cantatas, Laudate Dominum ; Christ
at Nain (which obtained the £50 prize offered
by Curwen and Sons, 1895) ; Cantata, Bott-
reaux bells (1873) ; Six school cantatas ; The
crown of roses. Summer holiday, etc., etc.
Jubilee ode, Victoria ! Victoria! (1887). Ser-
vices of song, anthems, school songs, etc.
In MS. are two comic operas. King Cophetua
(produced, 1881), and Endymion (1883), and
a dramatic cantata. The water nymph (1885).
Organ music contributed to the " Organist's
Quarterly Journal " and other publications,
and hymn tunes in the "National Tune
Book" (London : Patey and Willis), etc., etc.

entry id: 42-R-50