John Bennet (c. 1575 – after 1614) was a

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

of the

English madrigal school The English Madrigal School was the brief but intense flowering of the musical madrigal in England, mostly from 1588 to 1627, along with the composers who produced them. The English madrigals were a cappella, predominantly light in style, and gener ...

. Little is known for certain of Bennet's life, but his first collection of madrigals was published in 1599.

Life

Bennet's

madrigal A madrigal is a form of secular vocal music most typical of the Renaissance (15th–16th c.) and early Baroque (1600–1750) periods, although revisited by some later European composers. The polyphonic madrigal is unaccompanied, and the number o ...

s include " All Creatures Now" as well as "

Weep, O Mine Eyes "Weep, o mine eyes" is one of the most famous madrigals of the English composer John Bennet. It is written for four vocal parts and was first published in his first collection, ''Madrigalls to Fovre Voyces'', in 1599. The composition is an homage t ...

". The latter is an

homage Homage (Old English) or Hommage (French) may refer to: History *Homage (feudal) /ˈhɒmɪdʒ/, the medieval oath of allegiance *Commendation ceremony, medieval homage ceremony Arts *Homage (arts) /oʊˈmɑʒ/, an allusion or imitation by one arti ...

John Dowland John Dowland (c. 1563 – buried 20 February 1626) was an English Renaissance composer, lutenist, and singer. He is best known today for his melancholy songs such as "Come, heavy sleep", " Come again", "Flow my tears", " I saw my Lady weepe", ...

, using part of Dowland's most famous piece, "

Flow My Tears "Flow, my tears" (originally en-emodeng, Flow my teares fall from your springs, italic=no) is a lute song (specifically, an "ayre") by the accomplished lutenist and composer John Dowland (1563–1626). Originally composed as an instrumental under ...

", also known in its

pavane The ''pavane'' ( ; it, pavana, ''padovana''; german: Paduana) is a slow processional dance common in Europe during the 16th century (Renaissance). The pavane, the earliest-known music for which was published in Venice by Ottaviano Petrucci, ...

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 England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

, 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

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 Thomas Morley (1557 – early October 1602) was an English composer, theorist, singer and organist of the Renaissance. He was one of the foremost members of the English Madrigal School. Referring to the strong Italian influence on the Englis ...

. 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)

Life

Early life

Social Status

Composition Style

Works

References

Citations

Attribution

External links