John Bennett (composer) facts for kids

John Bennett (born around March 10, 1735, in Liverpool – died September 1784, in London) was an English organ player and composer. He wrote music, especially for the organ.

Life of a Musician

Not much is known about John Bennett's early life. We know he married Sarah Everett in 1756. He passed away in September 1784 and was buried on the 24th. For more than 30 years, he worked as the organist at St. Dionis Backchurch in Fenchurch Street, London. A famous musician named Charles Burney said that Bennett learned music from Johann Christoph Pepusch. Burney also noted that Bennett was very good at "counterpoint," which is a way of writing music where different melodies play at the same time.

A Talented Performer

John Bennett was a very skilled musician, common for his time. He played the organ and the viola. He also taught people how to play the harpsichord. Bennett even performed at the Drury Lane Theatre. There, he sang in the chorus and was a dancer. Charles Burney mentioned that Bennett played the viola and sometimes sang in the chorus.

Where He Lived

According to old records, Bennett lived at Boswell Court. This was near Queen Square in Bloomsbury, Holborn. He also worked as a tenor singer in the Queen's Band. In 1752, he became the organist at St. Dionis-Backchurch. He took over from Charles Burney and was chosen by everyone who voted.

Financial Challenges

In 1760, it seems Bennett was having money troubles. He asked for permission to work as an organist at a second church. This was St. John's Chapel, Bedford Row. He hoped this would help him and his family. However, he did not get that job. It was quite common for organists back then to work at more than one church. Many examples of this can be found in the list of people who supported Bennett's music book. Bennett did not try for any more jobs after this.

Family Life

John Bennett's wife, Sarah, passed away before him. She was buried on April 15, 1778. Both John and Sarah were buried at the church where he worked.

His Music

John Bennett is mainly known for one important work. It is called Ten Voluntaries for the Organ or Harpsichord. These pieces were published by Bennett himself in 1758. They have been printed many times since then. He also wrote three hymn tunes. These were published in a book of psalms by Christopher Smart.

Modern Collections

In recent years, parts of his Ten Voluntaries have been published in new collections. For example, H. Diack Johnstone published some in 1966 and 1988. Gwilym Beechey also published a selection in 1969. You can find a full version of his music online at the IMSLP site.

Original Copies

There are five original copies of his music book left in the British Isles. They are kept in important libraries. These include the British Library and Oxford University. The copies at the British Library and Oxford have a list of 227 people who supported his work. This list includes famous composers like Boyce, Stanley, and George Fredrick Handel.

About the Voluntaries

The voluntaries are long and original musical pieces. They usually have two, three, or four parts. Each part feels like a short, complete song. Bennett often wrote notes telling players to use different parts of the organ. This helped create special sounds. The music can be very rich and full, or it can have a single melody with a simple background. Sometimes, Bennett used a special musical effect called "false relation." This was rare for composers of his time but was used in older English music.

Organ Sounds

When you look at Bennett's music, it seems he wrote it for the specific organ at St. Dionis Backchurch. This organ was built in 1724. The instructions in his music show that he knew this particular instrument very well.

Musical Ornaments

In his Voluntaries, Bennett used three common musical ornaments. These are like little decorations added to the notes. They are the trill (shake), the beat (like a lower mordent), and the appoggiatura.

The Trill

The trill (symbol tr) is used a lot in Bennett's music. It usually means playing the main note and the note above it very quickly. Sometimes, the trill might also include a "turn," which is a quick set of notes around the main one.

The Beat

The beat is similar to a lower mordent. For this ornament, you play the written note and the note just below it. Some experts say it starts on the main note. Others say it starts on the note below. It can be hard to tell exactly what Bennett intended from the music.

The Appoggiatura

The appoggiatura is a note that leans into the main note. It takes some of the time from the main note. If the main note is not dotted, the appoggiatura takes half its value. If the main note is dotted, it takes two-thirds of its value. Bennett often wrote these out fully in his fast musical sections.

Some people think English musical ornaments were unique. However, many experts believe they were influenced by French styles. Composers in England likely knew about musical practices from other countries. Ornaments like the mordent were used everywhere.