First published in 1907, this volume presents the biography of the nineteenth-century English composer Sir William Sterndale Bennett by his son, J. R. Sterndale Bennett. Divided into five parts, the volume traces Bennett's childhood, musical education, his work as a teacher and conductor, and his compositions and honours. Included with the volume are a number of drawings, facsimiles, and photographs, as well as some appendices detailing Bennett's published and manuscript works.
Contents
Part I. Childhood, Education and Visits to Germany 1816–39: 1. Parentage and childhood, to 1826; 2. School-days, 1826–33; 3. Advanced studentship, 1833–6; 4. Leipzig, 1836–7; 5. London and, again, Leipzig, 1837–9; Part II. A Young Musician in London 1839–47: 6. Portland Chambers, 1839–41; 7. Composition in Portland Chambers, 1839–41; 8. Hesse-Cassel, Leipzig, Berlin, 1842; 9. The Philharmonic Society. The musical season of 1842; 10. Correspondence with Mendelssohn, 1842–3; 11. Marriage. Correspondence continued, 1844–6; 12. The unforeseen stroke. Death of Mendelssohn, 1846–7; Part III. A Harsh Rebuff. Quiet Spheres of Artistic Usefulness 1848–55: 13. Rupture with Costa and the Philharmonic Society. Occupations as a teacher, 1848; 14. The Bach Society. Chamber Concerts, 1849–55; 15. Correspondence with the Schumanns. Great Exhibition of 1851. Revivial of the Philharmonic Trouble. Conductorship of Gewandhaus Concerts. Production of Bach's 'Passion-Musik', 1850–5; Part IV. Called to the Front 1855–66: 16. Public appointments, 1855–6; 17. The Cambridge professorship; 18. Difference with the Philharmonic Directors. Bach Society. The Earl of Westmorland and the R.A. of Music, 1856–8; 19. Leeds Festival. 'The May Queen', 1858; 20. The chorale book for England, 1859–61; 21. His position at the Philharmonic assured. Withdrawal of the society's orchestra, 1859–61; 22. The International Exhibition of 1862, 1861–2; 23. A year of contrasting imports. Installation of the Chancellor at Cambridge. Jubilee of the Philharmonic Society. Domestic bereavement, 1862; 24. He faces sorrow. A Symphony in G Minor. The Professorship of Music at Edinburgh. He resigns the Philharmonic conductorship, 1862–6; Part V. Repayment of Debt to Alma Matter 1866–75: 25. The Royal Academy of Music. Bennett is appointed Principal, 1866–7; 26. Cambridge Professorship. 'The Woman of Samaria', 1867; 27. A crisis at the R.A. of Music, 1867–8; 28. Cambridge local examinations. Additions to 'The Woman of Samaria'. Associations with Germany. Uppingham School, 1868; 29. Government grant restored to the R.A. of Music. The R.A. of Music and the Society of Arts, 1868–9; 30. Compositions. Some circumstances of his private life, 1869–70; 31. Bennett with the Academy students, 1866–74; 32. Honours and rewards, 1870–2; 33. Compositions. The R.A. of Music and the Albert Hall, 1872–3; 34. Some personal characteristics; 35. Last days, 1873–5; Appendix; Index.
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