Richard Rodney Bennett

Bennett showed early promise as an exceptional musical talent and was encouraged by his mother, a student of Holst and a skilled pianist and composer. At the age of 16 he was writing 12-tone compositions, even though this technique was barely recognized in the British musical community. He accepted a scholarship at the RAM, where he studied with Berkeley and Ferguson. During this time several of his works were performed in London, including the cantata A Nocturnal Upon St. Lucy's Day and two string quartets. These works displayed a fine feeling for line and texture, characteri...