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Warren A. Benfield (1913-2001) was a Classical Double Bass player. He enjoyed a long career in the bass section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and was professor at Northwestern University.

Studies and Orchestral Career

Warren Benfield was a student of Anton Torello at the Curtis Institute in Philidelphia.

Benfield joined the bass section of the Minneapolis Symphony, its youngest member, in 1934. He also played as principal bass in the St. Louis symphony before joining the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1942. He played for a short while as co-principal, sharing the position with fellow Torello pupil Roger Scott^[1], before being appointed principal bass of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by Eugene Ormandy in 1949. Ormandy's presence in Chicago was not a long one, and Benfield was eventually fired, forcing him to audition for the orchestra. He continued to play in the Chicago Symphony until his retirement in 1987.^[2]

Teaching

Warren Benfield taught for many years at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. He built a reputation there as one of the leading double bass teachers of his time. Some prominent bassists who studied with Warren include [Harold Robinson], and [Jeff Bradetich].

Warren Benfield published The Art of Double Bass Playing with James Seay Dean. This text outlines many important qualities required of the double bassist in ensemble and solo playing as well as showing, if not expertise, appreciation for players in Jazz and contemporary classical fields. While not a bass method, The Art of the Double Bass draws extensively on passages from orchestral and solo repertoire as they relate to the topics discussed.

References

^ Kupferberg, Herbert. Those Fabulous Philadelphians: the life and times of a great orchestra. London: W. H. Allen, 1970. Print.
^ Benfield, Warren, and James Seay Dean. The Art of Double Bass Playing. New York: Alfred Publishing, 1995. Print.

External links

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[1] Kupferberg, Herbert. Those Fabulous Philadelphians: the life and times of a great orchestra. London: W. H. Allen, 1970. Print.

[2] Benfield, Warren, and James Seay Dean. The Art of Double Bass Playing. New York: Alfred Publishing, 1995. Print.

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 ==Teaching==
-Warren Benfield taught for many years at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. He built a
+Warren Benfield taught for many years at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. He built a reputation there as one of the leading double bass teachers of his time. Some prominent bassists who studied with Warren include [Harold Robinson], and [Jeff Bradetich].
+Warren Benfield published ''The Art of Double Bass Playing'' with James Seay Dean. This text outlines many important qualities required of the double bassist in ensemble and solo playing as well as showing, if not expertise, appreciation for players in Jazz and contemporary classical fields. While not a bass method, ''The Art of the Double Bass'' draws extensively on passages from orchestral and solo repertoire as they relate to the topics discussed.
 ==See Also==