Gloucestershire, England

Nov. 29, 1831, d. Purton, June 12, 1911. Organist at Westminster Chapel, etc author of many English libretti, analyses for programs of Philh. Soc Monday and Saturday Popular Concerts 1885-1903; edited Concord i a; contributed to various journals, wrote several books (History of Leeds Festival etc); critic on London Daily Telegraphy 1870-1905. Bennett. Sir William Stemdale, compr b Sheffield, Apr. 13, 1816, d. London, Feb. 1, 1875. Son of Robert, organist at Sheffield and composer; grandson of John, lay clerk at Cambridge, where B. lived after father’s death in 1819; member of King’s College Chapel Choir 1824; pupil at Royal Acad, of Mus. of Lucas, Crotch, Holmes, and Cipriani Potter; played concerto of his own at Acad, concert at age of 17; in 1836 in response to invitation from Mendel ohn whom his playing had interested and by the financial aid of the firm of Broadfwood he went to Leipzig for a year; there he met both Schumann and Mendel ohn; 1849 founded Bach Soc.; 1856-1866 conductor of Philh. Soc.; 1856 prof, of mus. at Cambridge; 1866 principal of Royal Acad.; 18/1 knighted Composed pf. music (3 concertos, caprice for pf. and orch., sonata, studies, etc.) of a character remarkably; consistent with the genius of the instrument; cantata The May Queen and oratorio The Woman 39 BENOIST of Samaria„ songs, anthems, etc.— on the whole very little for one of his 11 ability. The character of all his art [was] that of high finish of foim and grace of exrrp««ion not without deep feeling - but marked in general n\ a calm and placid beauty, and appealing to the fancy, the sentiment, and the intellect, rather than to the more pa ionate emotions.” [Grove ]