John Bennet (composer)

John Bennet (c. 1575 – after 1614) was a composer of the English madrigal school. Little is known for certain of Bennet's life, but his first collection of madrigals was published in 1599.

Life

Bennet's madrigals include " All Creatures Now" as well as " Weep, O Mine Eyes". The latter is an homage to John Dowland, using part of Dowland's most famous piece, " Flow My Tears", also known in its pavane form as '' Lachrymae Antiquae''. John Bennet's life is mostly undocumented. Bennet did however leave behind evidence that his impact is great. Bennet dedicated his madrigal volume, ''These First Fruits of My Simple Skill The Endeavors of a Young Wit'' to Ralph Assheton in 1599. Assheton held civic office in both Lancashire and Cheshire, he was dedicated as a token for favours received. It seems probable, therefore, that Bennet came from the north-west of England, and was born about 1575–80.

Early life

Bennet was born into a prosperous family and received his first exposure to music as a choirboy and advanced in music by his early twenties, he produced the ''Volume of 17: Madrigals for Four Voices''. At around that same time, Bennet fashioned four psalm settings and a prayer for the 1599 Barley's psalter. Though Bennet's style showed the influence of Wilbye, Weelkes, and Dowland, his greatest debt was to Thomas Morley.

Social Status

It is likely that Bennet had strong connections in high places in English society: many of his madrigals were written for festive occasions held at Court or in private residences of wealthy patrons in London. His madrigal, "Eliza, her Name Gives Honour" was one of several madrigals written for the feted guest at a celebration, in this case Queen Elizabeth. At such events, choirboys from the Chapel Royal were typically the featured performers.

Composition Style

John Bennet composed chiefly in the English madrigal style. He also composed several religious songs for church choral performances. His music shows a great deal of influence from the works of Thomas Morley. Bennet did not borrow musical ideas from earlier settings but he was knowledgeable about the latest trends of English madrigal during the time he was alive.

Works

Madrigals

Madrigalls to Fovre Voyces (Madrigals for Four Voices) (London, 1599) 7 madrigals* I wander up and down
* Weep silly soul disdained KA: Mourn silly soul disdained* So gracious is thy sweet self KA: So lovely is thy dear self* Let go, why do you stay me KA: My dear, why do you stay* Come, shepherds, follow me
* I languish to complain me
* Sing out, ye nymphs KA: Sing loud, ye nymphs; Shout loud, ye nymphs* Thirsis, sleepest thou
* Ye restless thoughts
* When as I glance KA: When as I looked* Cruel unkind my heart thou hast bereft me
* O sleep, O sleep fond fancy
* Weep, O mine eyes KA: Flow, O my tears* Since neither tunes of joy
* O grief, where shall poor grief
* O sweet grief, O sweet sighs
* Rest, now Amphion

Six madrigals (all for four voices) by Bennet were published in Thomas Ravenscroft's ''A Briefe Discourse'' (London, 1614)
* A hunts vp (The hunt is up)
* For the hearne and ducke KA: Lure, falconers, lure! (Low'r, falc'ners, low'r), a hunting madrigal; Hunting for the hearn and duck; The Falconers' Song* The Elues Daunce (The Elves' Dance)
* Three Fooles
* The Seruant of his Mistris (The Servant of his Mistress) KA: My Mistress is as fair as fine; The lover to his mistress* Their Wedlocke (A Borgens a borgen, che hard long agoe)


All creatures now are merry minded, for 5 voices ub. in ''The Triumphs of Oriana'', 1601br />
Round about in a fair ring, for 4 voices ub. 1614br />
My mistress is as fair as fine, for 4 voices KA: The Lover to His Mistress(different setting than in Ravenscroft's ''A Briefe Discourse'')



Consort Songs

Eliza, her name gives honour

Venus' birds

Anthems
*O be joyful in the Lord all ye lands (Psalm 100), soloist, chorus and organ
* O God of gods, in 5 parts
* O God O king of kings, in 4 parts
* Thou art, O Lord, my strength and stay (Psalm 28) n Richard Langdon's ''Divine Harmony'', 1774

Psalms ll pub. in ''The Whole Booke of Psalmes'', ed. Thomas Ravenscroft, 1621ref>
* My soul praise thou the Lord allways (Psalm 146)
* Oft they, now Israel may say (Psalm 129)
* O Lord how joyful is the king (Psalm 21)
* O Lord I put my trust in thee (Psalm 31)
* Thou heard that Israel dost keepe (Psalm 80)

References

Citations

Attribution

External links

John Bennett
at th
Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900
*

Free scores by John Bennet
in th
Choral Public Domain Library
(ChoralWiki)


a
Tomás Luis de Victoria
*
*Listen t

by th

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennet, John
1570s births
17th-century deaths
16th-century English composers
English male composers
17th-century English composers
17th-century male musicians