Benoit

(b6-no-a), Pierre-Leonard-L6o- pold, compr. b. Harlebecke, Belgium, Aug. 17, 1834; d Antwerp, Mar. 8, 1901 Studied at Bru els Cons, under F6tis, wuote opera and music to melodramas; theatrecondr 1 856; won government grant 1857; after study in Germany conducted at Paris; after 1807 director Antwerp Cons He wrote many songs and pf pieces and many large choral works, Lucifer and De Oorlog (War) being perhaps best known His scores are Iaigo, sometimes majestic through meie weight; their real grandeur and impre ivene is sometimes marred by B’s “ blind nationalism,” lus desire to free himself from all outside influence; he worked for many years to establish a school of Flemish composers, although there seem to be few distinctive traits.