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{{Short description|British flautist and teacher (1936–2022)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Underlinked|date=May 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2022}}
{{infobox person
| name = William Bennett
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=100%|OBE}}
| birth_name = William Ingham Brooke Bennett
| birth_date = {{birth date|1936|2|7|df=y}}
| birth_place = London, [[Middlesex]], England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|05|11|1936|02|07|df=y}}
| death_place = London, Middlesex, [[Greater London]], England
| education = [[Guildhall School of Music and Drama]]
| occupation = {{ubl | Classical flautist | teacher }}
| organizations = {{ubl| [[London Symphony Orchestra]] | [[English Chamber Orchestra]] | [[Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields]] | [[Melos Ensemble]] | [[Hochschule für Musik Freiburg]] | [[Royal Academy of Music]] }}
}}


'''William Ingham Brooke Bennett''' {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=100%|OBE}} (7 February 1936 – 11 May 2022) was a British flautist and teacher. He played in many English orchestras and chamber music ensembles, and as a soloist. He made more than 100 recordings, including chamber music with partners including [[George Malcolm (musician)|George Malcolm]], [[Osian Ellis]], and [[Yehudi Menuhin]]. He premiered flute concertos written for him, by [[William Mathias]], [[Diana Burrell]] and Raimundo Pineda. Bennett taught at the [[Hochschule für Musik Freiburg]] in Germany and the [[Royal Academy of Music]], and held master classes worldwide.
'''William Bennett''', OBE, Hon RAM, professor, is a British [[flute]] player (born on 7 February 1936 in [[London]] to parents who were both architects).


== Early life and studies ==
==Musical style==
William Ingham Brooke Bennett was born in London to parents who were both architects.<ref name="Lopez" /><ref name="Blakeman 2016" /> He boarded at [[Beltane School]] until he was 16, starting his school life as a seven-year-old during the [[World War II|Second World War]]. He started playing the [[Recorder (musical instrument)|recorder]] at the age of 8 and the flute at 12.<ref name="Lopez" /><ref name="Blakeman" /> He studied the flute in London with [[Geoffrey Gilbert]]<ref name="Altus Flutes" /> from the age of 15 and went to the [[Guildhall School of Music and Drama]] a year later. Instead of doing two years of compulsory national military service after the war, he chose instead to serve three years in the [[Band of the Scots Guards|Scots Guards band]], which allowed him to continue his studies at the Guildhall School of Music.<ref name="Lopez" /> He went to Paris on a French government [[scholarship]] at 21, where he had lessons with Fernand Caratgé and [[Jean-Pierre Rampal]]. In the 1960s, he studied with [[Marcel Moyse]].<ref name="Blakeman" /><ref name="Altus Flutes" />


== Career and recordings ==
His playing is distinguished by his wide repertoire (baroque to through classical and romantic to contemporary). His playing is also distinguished by his wide range of tone colours, which he developed through his association with the [[guitar]] and his wish to emulate the changing colours used by the guitarist Julian Bream. He also studied composition at music college, having already written a [[sonatina]] for flute and [[piano]] whilst at school, and then a [[concerto]] for flute, [[clarinet]] and strings before he was 18. His compositional skills have aided him in writing numerous realisations of continuo parts, in composing several [[cadenzas]] for classical concertos, (which can be heard on his recordings), and in making many arrangements for the flute of important pieces which were originally written for other instruments.
At the age of 22, Bennett started working in his first principal flute position in the BBC Northern Orchestra (now the [[BBC Philharmonic]]).<ref name="Lopez" /> He played with major British orchestras, including [[Sadler's Wells Opera|Sadlers Wells Opera]], the [[London Symphony Orchestra]], the [[English Chamber Orchestra]]<ref name="Altus Flutes" /> and the [[Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields]].<ref name="Blakeman" /><ref name="BFS" /> He played and recorded with [[chamber music]] ensembles, including the [[Melos Ensemble]], [[Nash Ensemble]], Vesuvius Ensemble and Prometheus Ensemble.<ref name="Blakeman" /><!-- and English Baroque Ensemble. -->


As a soloist he had partnerships with [[harpsichordist]] [[George Malcolm (musician)|George Malcolm]], with whom he recorded the complete [[Flute sonatas (Bach)|Bach flute sonatas]] and [[Flute Concerto No. 1 (Mozart)|Mozart concertos]], and with pianist [[Clifford Benson]]<ref name="Hyperion" /> and harpist [[Osian Ellis]], with whom he recorded extensively.<ref name="Blakeman" /> In his solo recordings he partnered with [[Yehudi Menuhin]], the Grumiaux Trio, [[I Musici]], the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and the English Chamber Orchestra,<ref name="Hyperion" /> and also recorded with artists such as [[Jimi Hendrix]] and [[Wynton Marsalis]]. He rerecorded the complete Handel flute sonatas, with Harold Lester, and contemporary works such as [[Luciano Berio|Berio]]'s ''Sequenza'', [[Pierre Boulez|Boulez]]'s Sonatine, [[Olivier Messiaen|Messiaen]]'s ''Merle Noir'', and [[Richard Rodney Bennett]]'s ''Winter Music'' which was composed for him.<ref name="highresaudio" />
==Early life and studies==


In addition to recording the standard flute repertoire, he made first recordings of 19th century works by [[Ferdinand Ries]], [[Bernhard Romberg]], and [[Paul Taffanel]].<ref name="Lopez" /><ref name="Altus Flutes" /> He premiered concertos by [[William Mathias]], [[Diana Burrell]] and Venezuelan composer Raimundo Pineda, written for him.<ref name="highresaudio" /> Bennett had his own record label, "Beep Records". In the 1980s, he was professor of flute at the [[Hochschule für Musik Freiburg]] in Germany,<ref name="Blakeman" /> and he taught at the [[Royal Academy of Music]] in London and at masterclasses all over the world.<ref name="Lopez" /> Bennett ran his own school, the International Flute Summer School, and was president of the British Flute Society.<ref name="BFS" /><ref name="Pan" />{{rp|3}}
He boarded at Beltane School until he was 16, starting his school life as a seven-year-old during the [[World War II|Second World War]]. He started playing the [[Recorder (musical instrument)|recorder]] at the age of 8 and the flute at 12. He studied the flute in London with [[Geoffrey Gilbert]] from the age of 15 and went to the [[Guildhall School of Music and Drama]] a year later. Instead of doing two years of compulsory national military service after the war, he chose instead to serve three years in the [[Band of the Scots Guards|Scots Guards band]], which allowed him to continue his studies at the Guildhall School of Music. He went to [[Paris]] on a French government [[scholarship]] at 21, where he had lessons with Fernand Caratgé and [[Jean-Pierre Rampal]]. Later he studied with [[Marcel Moyse]].


== Personal life ==
==Career and Recordings==
Bennett was usually known by his initials, WIBB.<ref name="BFS" /><ref name="Pan" />{{rp|3}} He had two daughters from his first marriage (1961) to cellist Rhuna Martin.<ref name="Isserlis 2014" /> His elder daughter, Vanora Bennett, is a writer; his younger daughter is an Arabist who works as a translator for international organizations.<ref name="Isserlis 2014" /> In 1981, he married Michie,<ref name="Stetson Today 2018" /> a fellow flautist who is producer and director of Beep Records,<ref name="Pender Island Flute Retreat 2017">{{cite web | title=Michie Bennett | website=Pender Island Flute Retreat | date=7 October 2017 | url=https://www.fluteretreat.com/michie-bennett.html | access-date=15 May 2022}}</ref> and has run the International Flute Summer School for 35 years.<ref name="Pender Island Flute Retreat 2017" /> Bennett had skills in art.<ref name="Blakeman 2016" />


Bennett died on 11 May 2022 at age 86.<ref name="Lopez" /><!--
At the age of 22, he started working in his first principal flute position in the BBC Northern orchestra (now the [[BBC Philharmonic]]). He has played with most of the major British orchestras, including the BBC Northern (Philharmonic), Sadlers Wells Opera, the [[London Symphony Orchestra]], the [[English Chamber Orchestra]] and the [[Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields]]. He has played and recorded with chamber music ensembles, including the [[Melos Ensemble]].[1], [[Nash Ensemble]], Vesuvius Ensemble, Prometheus Ensemble and English Baroque Ensemble . As a soloist he has had partnerships with [[harpsichordist]] [[George Malcolm (musician)|George Malcolm]] (with whom he recorded the complete Bach flute sonatas and Mozart concertos) and with pianist Clifford Benson and harpist [[Osian Ellis]], with whom he has recorded extensively. In his solo recordings he has partnered [[Yehudi Menuhin]], the Grumiaux Trio, [[I Musici]], the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and the English Chamber Orchestra, and has also recorded with artists such as [[Jimi Hendrix]] and [[Wynton Marsalis]]. He has made over 100 CDs as a soloist. He has received international acclaim and enthusiastic reviews in record and CD journals. Early in his career he made the first English recording of the complete Handel flute sonatas with Harold Lester, and of contemporary works including Boulez's Sonatine, Berio's Sequenza, Messaien's Merle Noir, and Richard Rodney Bennett's Winter Music (which was specially written for him.) In addition to recording the standard flute repertoire of Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Mozart, etc., he has made pioneer recordings of many neglected 19th century works, such as music by Ries, Romberg, and Taffanel. He premiered concertos by William Mathias, Diana Burrell and Venezuelan composer Raymund Pineda, all of which were specially written for him. He has his own record label, "Beep Records". In the 1980s, he was Professor of Flute at the Freiburg Hochschule of Music in [[Germany]], and he now teaches at the [[Royal Academy of Music]] in London and at masterclasses all over the world. His highly acclaimed International Flute Summer School has enjoyed 29 years of success.
== Musical style ==


Bennett's playing was distinguished by his wide repertoire (Baroque through classical and romantic to contemporary),<ref name="Lopez" /> and also by his wide range of tone colours, which he developed through his association with the [[guitar]] and his wish to emulate the changing colours used by the guitarist [[Julian Bream]]. He also studied composition at music college, having already written a [[sonatina]] for flute and [[piano]] whilst at school, and then a [[concerto]] for flute, [[clarinet]] and strings before he was 18. His compositional skills have aided him in writing numerous realisations of continuo parts, in composing several [[cadenzas]] for classical concertos, and in making many arrangements for the flute of important pieces which were originally written for other instruments.-->
==Awards and recognition==


[[File:William Bennett LGSM Medal A.jpg|thumb|LGSM Silver Medal Side A]]
In 1984 he was given the title of Professor by the District of Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
== Awards and recognition ==
In 1987 he was made an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music.
[[File:William Bennett LGSM Medal B.jpg|thumb|LGSM Silver Medal Side B]]
In 2002 he was awarded the National Flute Association's Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2003 he was appointed the British Flute Society's Flautist Laureate. In 2004 he was awarded the title of Flute of Gold from the Italian Falaut Flute society. In 2007 he was made Honorary President of the Guangzhou Flute Association, China. In 2009 he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Chicago Flute Club. He is President of the British Flute Society. He was awarded the [[Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in January 1995 for his distinguished Services to Music.
<!--* In 1984, he was given the title of professor by the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
* In 1987, he was made an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music.-->
For his distinguished services to music, Bennett was awarded the [[Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in 1995.<ref name="BFS" /><ref name="Hyperion" /> He was appointed Flautist Laureate by the British Flute Society in 2003.<ref name="Hyperion" /> In 2004, he gained the title of Flute of Gold from the Italian Falaut Flute society.<ref name="highresaudio" /><!--
* In 2007, he was made Honorary President of the Guangzhou Flute Association, China. --> He also received two Lifetime Achievement Awards, one from the National Flute Association in 2002 and another from the Chicago Flute Club in 2009.<ref name="Hyperion" /><ref name="highresaudio" />
In 2018, he was awarded the [[Walter Willson Cobbett Medal]] by the [[Worshipful Company of Musicians]] "in recognition of services to [[chamber music]]".<ref>{{cite web |title=The Walter Willson Cobbett Medal |url=https://www.wcomarchive.org.uk/--walter-willson |website=The Musicians' Company Archive|publisher=The Worshipful Company of Musicians |access-date=16 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref>


==William Bennett scale==
== William Bennett scale ==
In addition to making a [[balalaika]] and a guitar whilst still at school, Bennett's dissatisfaction with the intonation of his flute led him to start altering the position of the tone holes of his flute when he was 18 years old. He invented the [[Musical tuning|tuning]] patch, and then built his own flute at age 20. He worked to improve the scale further, in collaboration with other British flautists and makers, which helped to improve the intonation of the modern flute. Many makers use the William Bennett scales,<ref name="Blakeman" /> including Altus Flute.<ref name="Altus Flutes" /><!-- Jupiter Flute, Jack Moore Flute, Almeida Flute, Tom Green Flute, Miguel Arista Flute, Juan Arista Flute, Emmanuel Flute, Emerson Flute, Yamaha (Student model) Flute, Jonathan Landell Flute, Tom Lacy Flute, Andrew Oxley Flute, Webb & Wessel Flute, Eloy Flute, Gemeinhart Flute and Burkart Flute.-->


== Recordings ==
In addition to making a balalaika and a guitar whilst still at school, his dissatisfaction with the intonation of his flute led him to start altering the position of the tone holes of his flute when he was 18 years old. He invented the tuning patch, and then built his own flute at 20. He has been working to improve the scale of the flute ever since, and his continued work, in collaboration with other British flautists and makers, has helped to improve the intonation of the modern flute. There are many makers who have used the William Bennett scales : Altus Flute, Jupiter Flute, Jack Moore Flute, Almeida Flute, Tom Green Flute, Miguel Arista Flute, Juan Arista Flute, Emmanuel Flute, Emerson Flute, Yamaha (Student model) Flute, Jonathan Landell Flute, Tom Lacy Flute, Andrew Oxley Flute, Webb & Wessel Flute and recently Eloy Flute, Gemeinhart Flute and Burkart Flute.
Bennett made more than 100 recordings, including:<ref name="Lopez" /><ref>[http://www.williambennettflute.com/discoindex.html Benett discography]</ref>
* ''My Favorite Encores'' (Southern Music)
* ''Paul Taffanel: Mignon Fantasie'' (Southern Music)
* ''J. S. Bach: Six Sonatas for Flute and Keyboard'' (Vol. 1 and 2, Chester)
* ''Sir Arthur Sullivan: Twilight for 2 Flutes and Piano'' (Emerson Edition)
* ''Paul A. Genin: Air Napolitain'' (Alry Publications)
* ''Faure: Fantaisie for 2 Flutes and Piano'' (Alry Publications)
* ''J. S. Bach: Sinfonia Cantata No. 209'' (Pan Educational Music)
* ''Chopin: Nocturne in D-flat'', for 2 flutes and piano (Alry Publications)
* ''C. Benson: Song for Wibb'' (Pan Educational Music)
* ''W. A. Mozart: Adagio and Rondo'' (Pan Educational Music)
* ''Paul Taffanel: Jean de Nivelle'' ([[Broekmans & Van Poppel]] B.V)
* ''Paul Taffanel: Francesca di Rimini'' ([[Broekmans & Van Poppel]] B.V)<!--


=== Beep records ===
==Publications==
* 27: ''Works for Flute and Piano'' – Taffanel: Operatic Fantasies – William Bennett, flute, & Clifford Benson, piano.
* 28: ''Live at Wigmore Hall'' – Works for Flute and Piano – Bach, Mozart, Schubert. Mendelssohn, Ries. Reinecke – William Bennett, flute, Clifford Benson, piano
* 29: ''Works for Flute and Orchestra by Nielsen, Reinecke, Dvořák, Sibelius and Elgar'' – William Bennett, flute, English Chamber Orchestra, Shuntaro Sato, conductor.
* 30: ''Caprice Parisien – Works for Flute and Guitar'' – Ibert. Massenet. Debussy etc.- William Bennett, flute, Jonathan Leathwood, guitar.
* 31: ''Works for Flute and Orchestra – Haydn. Hanson. Honneger. Griffes. Kennan. Foote'' – William Bennett, flute, English Chamber Orchestra, Shuntaro Sato & Nicholas Cleobury, conductors.
* 32: ''Flute Quintets with Allegri String Quartet'' – Romberg, Jan Brandts Buys – William Bennett, flute, Allegri String Quartet.
* 33: ''Four Concertos for a New Era – Burrell, Mathias, Musgrave & Pineda'' – William Bennett, flute, English Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Raimundo Pineda & Richard Bernas.
* 34: ''Mountains Toward the Sea – Works for Flute and Guitar – Beaser, Coste, Dodgson, Molino, Takemitsu'' – William Bennett, flute, Jonathan Leathwood, guitar.
* 35: ''Works by Mozart'' for flute and orchestra, including Flute & Harp Concerto, Rondo, Andante in C and Concerto for Basset Flute – William Bennett, flute, Marisa Robles, harp, English Chamber Orchestra, directed by William Bennett.
* 36: ''Bach Concertos for Flute and Two Flutes'' – works by Rameau, Gluck, Beethoven, Haydn – William Bennett, flute, Denis Bouriakov, flute, English Chamber Orchestra, directed by William Bennett.
* 37: ''William Bennett's Melodies and Encores'' – Brahms, Chopin, Elgar, Mendelssohn, etc. – William Bennett, flute, Clifford Benson, piano.
* 38: ''Great Works for Flute and Piano'' – Schubert, Frank, Hahn, Dohnanyi, Prokofiev – William Bennett, flute, and Clifford Benson, piano.
* 39: ''Flute Concertos'' by C. P. E. Bach in D major and D minor and Telemann concertos for two flutes and strings -William Bennett, flute, and Unji Chung, flute & flute tierce, English Chamber Orchestra & London Octave, directed by William Bennett.
* 40: ''Sibelius Concerto, Bach Chaconne, Kreisler, Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saëns'' – Denis Bouriakov, flute, Robin Davis, piano.
* 41: ''Mel Bonis Sonata, Brahms Waltzes'' – William Bennett, flute, John Lenahan, piano, Lorna McGhee, flute, Emma Halnan, alto flute and flute.
* 42: ''Debussy Sonata'' – Lorna McGhee, flute, Piers Lane, piano.-->


==References==
*My Favorite Encores (Southern Music)
*Paul Taffanel: Mignon Fantasie (Southern Music)
*J.S. Bach: Six Sonatas for Flute and Keyboard (Vol. 1 and 2) (Chester)
*Sir Arthur Sullivan Twilight for 2 Flutes and Piano (Emerson Edition)
*Paul A. Genin: Air Napolitain (Alry Publications)
*Faure: Fantaisie for 2 Flutes and Piano (Alry Publications)
*J.S. Bach: Sinfonia Cantata No.209 (Pan Educational Music)
*Chopin: Nocturne in D-flat. for 2 Flutes and Piano (Alry Publications)
*C.Benson : Song for Wibb (Pan Educational Music)
*W.A.Mozart: Adagio and Rondo (Pan Educational Music)
*Paul Taffanel : Jean de Nivelle (Broekmans en Van Poppel B.V)
*Paul Taffanel : Francesca di Rimini (Broekmans en Van Poppel B.V)


==Discography==
=== Citations ===
{{reflist
| refs =


<ref name="Blakeman">{{cite web
Too numerous to list here. For a more comprehensive list—Visit – ( [http://www.williambennettflute.com/disco_b_c.html ] )
| last = Blakeman
| first = Edward
| url = http://www.williambennettflute.com/profile.htm
| title = Profile / William Bennett in conversation with Edward Blakeman
| website = williambennettflute.com
| date = 1985
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081210172857/http://www.williambennettflute.com/profile.htm
| archive-date = 10 December 2008
| access-date = 14 May 2022
}}</ref>


<ref name="Blakeman 2016">{{cite journal
==Beep records==
|last=Blakeman
|first=Edward
|date=2016
|title=Wibb: a flute for life: the career and legacy of William Bennett
|journal=Flutist Quarterly
|volume=
|pages=
}}</ref>


<ref name="Isserlis 2014">{{cite web
*BEEP 27: Works for Flute and Piano – Taffanel: Operatic Fantasies – William Bennett, flute, & Clifford Benson, piano.
| last=Isserlis
*BEEP 28: Live at Wigmore Hall – Works for Flute and Piano – Bach, Mozart, Schubert. Mendelssohn, Ries. Reinecke – William Bennett, flute, Clifford Benson, piano
| first=Steven
*BEEP 29: Works for Flute and Orchestra by Nielsen, Reinecke, Dvořák, Sibelius and Elgar – William Bennett, flute, English Chamber Orchestra, Shuntaro Sato, conductor.
| title=Rhuna Martin obituary
*BEEP 30: Caprice Parisien – Works for Flute and Guitar – Ibert. Massenet. Debussy etc.- William Bennett, flute, Jonathan Leathwood, guitar.
| website=[[The Guardian]]
*BEEP 31: Works for Flute and Orchestra – Haydn. Hanson. Honneger. Griffes. Kennan. Foote – William Bennett, flute, English Chamber Orchestra, Shuntaro Sato & Nicholas Cleobury, conductors.
| date=1 September 2014
*BEEP 32: Flute Quintets with Allegri String Quartet – Romberg, Jan Brandts Buys – William Bennett, flute, Allegri String Quartet.
| url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/sep/01/rhuna-martin-obituary
*BEEP 33: Four Concertos for a New Era – Burrell, Mathias, Musgrave & Pineda – William Bennett, flute, English Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Raimundo Pineda & Richard Bernas.
| access-date=15 May 2022
*BEEP 34: Mountains Toward the Sea – Works for Flute and Guitar – Beaser, Coste, Dodgson, Molino, Takemitsu – William Bennett, flute, Jonathan Leathwood, guitar.
}}</ref>
*BEEP 35: Works by Mozart for Flute and orchestra, including Flute & Harp Concerto, Rondo, Andante in C and Concerto for Basset Flute – William Bennett, flute, Marisa Robles, harp, English Chamber Orchestra, directed by William Bennett.
*BEEP 36: Bach Concertos for Flute and two Flutes – works by Rameau, Gluck, Beethoven, Haydn – William Bennett, flute, Denis Bouriakov, flute, English Chamber Orchestra, directed by William Bennett.
*BEEP 37: William Bennett's Melodies and Encores – Brahms, Chopin, Elgar, Mendelssohn, etc. – William Bennett, flute, Clifford Benson, piano.
*BEEP 38: Great Works for Flute and Piano – Schubert, Frank, Hahn, Dohnanyi, Prokofiev – William Bennett, flute, and Clifford Benson, piano.
*BEEP 39: Flute Concertos by CPE Bach in D major and D minor and Telemann concertos for two flutes and strings -William Bennett, flute, and Unji Chung, flute & flute tierce, English Chamber Orchestra & London Octave, directed by William Bennett.
*BEEP 40: Sibelius Concerto, Bach Chaconne Kreisler, Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saëns – Denis Bouriakov, flute, Robin Davis, piano.
*BEEP 41: Mel Bonis Sonata, Brahms Waltzes – William Bennett, flute, John Lenahan, piano, Lorna McGhee, flute, Emma Halnan, alto flute and flute.
*BEEP 42 Debussy Sonata – Lorna McGhee, flute, Piers Lane, piano.


<ref name="Lopez">{{cite news
==Personal==
| last = Lopez
| first = Louis-Valentin
| url = https://www.radiofrance.fr/francemusique/le-grand-flutiste-anglais-william-bennett-est-mort-4324461
| title = Le grand flûtiste anglais William Bennett est mort
| publisher = [[Radio France]]
| date = 13 May 2022
| language = fr
| access-date = 14 May 2022
}}</ref>


<ref name="Altus Flutes">{{cite web
Usually known by his initials, WIBB, Bennett has two daughters from his first marriage in 1961 to cellist Rhuna Martin, his eldest daughter, [[Vanora Bennett]], is a writer and second daughter works at the United Nations. In 1981, he remarried Michie a fellow-flautist and now producer and director of Beep Records; they have one son, a Sinologist. Michie has run the International flute Summer School for 29 years.
| url = https://www.altusflutes.eu/en/musicians/william-bennett.html
| title = William Bennett
| publisher = Altus Flutes
| date = 2022
| access-date = 14 May 2022
}}</ref>


<ref name="highresaudio">{{cite web
Having grown up in a family circle of artists and painters, Bennett is a talented artist and cartoonist who draws with great pleasure and designs many of his own album covers.
| url = https://www.highresaudio.com/de/artist/view/946eb36d-4fd9-4643-b75a-48b1ccf885f0/sir-neville-marriner-academy-of-st-martin-in-the-fields
| title = William Bennett
| publisher = highresaudio
| date = 2022
| access-date = 15 May 2022
}}</ref>

<ref name="Hyperion">{{cite news
| url = https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/a.asp?a=A481
| title = William Bennett (flute)
| publisher = [[Hyperion Records|Hyperion]]
| date = 2022
| access-date = 14 May 2022
}}</ref>

<ref name="BFS">{{cite web
| url = https://bfs.org.uk/meet-the-bfs-council
| title = Meet the Council
| website = British Flute Society
| date = 2022
| access-date = 15 May 2022
}}</ref>

<ref name="Pan">{{cite magazine
| url = <!--https://static1.squarespace.com/enwiki/static/5c855f1c65a70 789cd2b4ed7/t/5eb34b8a42569565461ce1a7/1588808622681/Pan+March+2020.pdf-->
| title = William Bennett's Happy Flute Festival
| magazine = PAN
| publisher = British Flute Society
| date = 2020}}</ref>

<ref name="Stetson Today 2018">{{cite web
| title=Renowned British flutist William Bennett to perform on Tuesday, Feb. 6
| website=Stetson Today
| date=20 January 2018
| url=https://www2.stetson.edu/today/2018/01/renowned-british-flutist-william-bennett-to-perform-at-stetson/
| access-date=15 May 2022
}}</ref>

}}

=== General and cited sources ===
* {{cite book | last=Blakeman | first=Edward | title=Wibb: A Flute for life |location=London | date=2016 | isbn=978-0-946113-10-1 | oclc=958878178 | page=}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web | title=William Bennett OBE, 1936–2022 | website=Royal Academy of Music | date=21 April 2020 | url=https://www.ram.ac.uk/news/william-bennett-1936-2022 | access-date=15 May 2022}}
* {{cite book | last=Blakeman | first=Edward | title=Oxford Music Online | chapter=Bennett, William | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2001 | doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.44128| isbn=9781561592630 }}
* {{cite book | last=Maclagan | first=S. J. | title=A Dictionary for the Modern Flutist | publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers | series=Dictionaries for the Modern Musician | year=2019 | isbn=978-1-5381-0666-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dNqNDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA25 | access-date=15 May 2022}}
* {{cite book | last=Moratz | first=K. E. | title=Flute For Dummies | publisher=Wiley | year=2009 | isbn=978-0-470-59579-4 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QYWqVKY_9dIC&pg=PA317 | language=fr | access-date=15 May 2022}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.williambennettflute.com}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb name|7553062}}
*William Bennett – Royal Academy of Music [http://www.ram.ac.uk/find-people?pid=321]
* {{discogs artist|William Bennett (3)}}
* [https://www.adams-music.com/de/kuenstler/flute_centre/william-bennett William Bennett] (management) adams-music.com


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata
| NAME = Bennett, William
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =flute player
| DATE OF BIRTH = 7 February 1936
| PLACE OF BIRTH =London, England
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, William}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, William}}
[[Category:British flautists]]
[[Category:English classical flautists]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:Academics of the Royal Academy of Music]]
[[Category:Academics of the Royal Academy of Music]]
[[Category:Musicians from London]]
[[Category:British flautists]]
[[Category:English classical flautists]]
[[Category:London Symphony Orchestra players]]
[[Category:London Symphony Orchestra players]]
[[Category:Musicians from London]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]

Latest revision as of 00:32, 14 December 2024

William Bennett
OBE
Born
William Ingham Brooke Bennett

(1936-02-07)7 February 1936
London, Middlesex, England
Died11 May 2022(2022-05-11) (aged 86)
London, Middlesex, Greater London, England
EducationGuildhall School of Music and Drama
Occupations
  • Classical flautist
  • teacher
Organizations

William Ingham Brooke Bennett OBE (7 February 1936 – 11 May 2022) was a British flautist and teacher. He played in many English orchestras and chamber music ensembles, and as a soloist. He made more than 100 recordings, including chamber music with partners including George Malcolm, Osian Ellis, and Yehudi Menuhin. He premiered flute concertos written for him, by William Mathias, Diana Burrell and Raimundo Pineda. Bennett taught at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg in Germany and the Royal Academy of Music, and held master classes worldwide.

Early life and studies

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William Ingham Brooke Bennett was born in London to parents who were both architects.[1][2] He boarded at Beltane School until he was 16, starting his school life as a seven-year-old during the Second World War. He started playing the recorder at the age of 8 and the flute at 12.[1][3] He studied the flute in London with Geoffrey Gilbert[4] from the age of 15 and went to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama a year later. Instead of doing two years of compulsory national military service after the war, he chose instead to serve three years in the Scots Guards band, which allowed him to continue his studies at the Guildhall School of Music.[1] He went to Paris on a French government scholarship at 21, where he had lessons with Fernand Caratgé and Jean-Pierre Rampal. In the 1960s, he studied with Marcel Moyse.[3][4]

Career and recordings

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At the age of 22, Bennett started working in his first principal flute position in the BBC Northern Orchestra (now the BBC Philharmonic).[1] He played with major British orchestras, including Sadlers Wells Opera, the London Symphony Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra[4] and the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields.[3][5] He played and recorded with chamber music ensembles, including the Melos Ensemble, Nash Ensemble, Vesuvius Ensemble and Prometheus Ensemble.[3]

As a soloist he had partnerships with harpsichordist George Malcolm, with whom he recorded the complete Bach flute sonatas and Mozart concertos, and with pianist Clifford Benson[6] and harpist Osian Ellis, with whom he recorded extensively.[3] In his solo recordings he partnered with Yehudi Menuhin, the Grumiaux Trio, I Musici, the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and the English Chamber Orchestra,[6] and also recorded with artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Wynton Marsalis. He rerecorded the complete Handel flute sonatas, with Harold Lester, and contemporary works such as Berio's Sequenza, Boulez's Sonatine, Messiaen's Merle Noir, and Richard Rodney Bennett's Winter Music which was composed for him.[7]

In addition to recording the standard flute repertoire, he made first recordings of 19th century works by Ferdinand Ries, Bernhard Romberg, and Paul Taffanel.[1][4] He premiered concertos by William Mathias, Diana Burrell and Venezuelan composer Raimundo Pineda, written for him.[7] Bennett had his own record label, "Beep Records". In the 1980s, he was professor of flute at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg in Germany,[3] and he taught at the Royal Academy of Music in London and at masterclasses all over the world.[1] Bennett ran his own school, the International Flute Summer School, and was president of the British Flute Society.[5][8]: 3 

Personal life

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Bennett was usually known by his initials, WIBB.[5][8]: 3  He had two daughters from his first marriage (1961) to cellist Rhuna Martin.[9] His elder daughter, Vanora Bennett, is a writer; his younger daughter is an Arabist who works as a translator for international organizations.[9] In 1981, he married Michie,[10] a fellow flautist who is producer and director of Beep Records,[11] and has run the International Flute Summer School for 35 years.[11] Bennett had skills in art.[2]

Bennett died on 11 May 2022 at age 86.[1]

LGSM Silver Medal Side A

Awards and recognition

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LGSM Silver Medal Side B

For his distinguished services to music, Bennett was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1995.[5][6] He was appointed Flautist Laureate by the British Flute Society in 2003.[6] In 2004, he gained the title of Flute of Gold from the Italian Falaut Flute society.[7] He also received two Lifetime Achievement Awards, one from the National Flute Association in 2002 and another from the Chicago Flute Club in 2009.[6][7] In 2018, he was awarded the Walter Willson Cobbett Medal by the Worshipful Company of Musicians "in recognition of services to chamber music".[12]

William Bennett scale

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In addition to making a balalaika and a guitar whilst still at school, Bennett's dissatisfaction with the intonation of his flute led him to start altering the position of the tone holes of his flute when he was 18 years old. He invented the tuning patch, and then built his own flute at age 20. He worked to improve the scale further, in collaboration with other British flautists and makers, which helped to improve the intonation of the modern flute. Many makers use the William Bennett scales,[3] including Altus Flute.[4]

Recordings

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Bennett made more than 100 recordings, including:[1][13]

  • My Favorite Encores (Southern Music)
  • Paul Taffanel: Mignon Fantasie (Southern Music)
  • J. S. Bach: Six Sonatas for Flute and Keyboard (Vol. 1 and 2, Chester)
  • Sir Arthur Sullivan: Twilight for 2 Flutes and Piano (Emerson Edition)
  • Paul A. Genin: Air Napolitain (Alry Publications)
  • Faure: Fantaisie for 2 Flutes and Piano (Alry Publications)
  • J. S. Bach: Sinfonia Cantata No. 209 (Pan Educational Music)
  • Chopin: Nocturne in D-flat, for 2 flutes and piano (Alry Publications)
  • C. Benson: Song for Wibb (Pan Educational Music)
  • W. A. Mozart: Adagio and Rondo (Pan Educational Music)
  • Paul Taffanel: Jean de Nivelle (Broekmans & Van Poppel B.V)
  • Paul Taffanel: Francesca di Rimini (Broekmans & Van Poppel B.V)

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Lopez, Louis-Valentin (13 May 2022). "Le grand flûtiste anglais William Bennett est mort" (in French). Radio France. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b Blakeman, Edward (2016). "Wibb: a flute for life: the career and legacy of William Bennett". Flutist Quarterly.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Blakeman, Edward (1985). "Profile / William Bennett in conversation with Edward Blakeman". williambennettflute.com. Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e "William Bennett". Altus Flutes. 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d "Meet the Council". British Flute Society. 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e "William Bennett (flute)". Hyperion. 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d "William Bennett". highresaudio. 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  8. ^ a b "William Bennett's Happy Flute Festival". PAN. British Flute Society. 2020.
  9. ^ a b Isserlis, Steven (1 September 2014). "Rhuna Martin obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Renowned British flutist William Bennett to perform on Tuesday, Feb. 6". Stetson Today. 20 January 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Michie Bennett". Pender Island Flute Retreat. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  12. ^ "The Walter Willson Cobbett Medal". The Musicians' Company Archive. The Worshipful Company of Musicians. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  13. ^ Benett discography

General and cited sources

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Further reading

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