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Composer/Author, Composer

John Bennet

1575 — 1614

Albums

All in the April Evening: A Cappella Favourites from the British Isles
Laudibus, Michael Brewer
My Mind to Me a Kingdom Is: Ballads from Shakespeare's Time
David Cordier, Tragicomedia
Madrigals and Wedding Songs for Diana
The Consort of Musicke
How the World Wags: Social Music for a 17th-Century Englishman
The City Waites

Overview of John Bennet and His Works

John Bennet (c. 1575 – after 1614) was an English composer best known for his madrigals, which ranged in style from festive and lighthearted to solemn and serious. He was active during the late Renaissance period and is a notable figure within the English Madrigal School. Despite his musical influence, little is known about his personal life; it is believed he was born in northwest England, likely between 1575 and 1580, and that he came from a prosperous family.

Major Contributions and Musical Style

Bennet's work is distinguished by its melodic creativity and its responsiveness to the madrigal tradition established by contemporaries like Thomas Morley, John Wilbye, Thomas Weelkes, and John Dowland. He was known to borrow texts from existing collections but uniquely set them to his own original tunes rather than using pre-existing melodies. His style is characterized by expressive text setting and innovative harmonic structures, especially visible in his madrigals.

Notable Works

Bennet's best-known madrigal is "Weep, O Mine Eyes," serving as an homage to John Dowland by incorporating material from Dowland’s famous “Flow, my tears”. He also contributed "All Creatures Now Are Merry-Minded" to Thomas Morley’s famous collection The Triumphs of Oriana.

His first published book of madrigals, "Madrigals for Four Voices (1599)," dedicated to Ralph Assheton, established his reputation. This collection includes both serious and light-hearted compositions.

In addition to his madrigal volume, Bennet also composed a piece for viols celebrating Queen Elizabeth I and a verse anthem “O God of Gods” for King James I’s inauguration. Around the same time, he fashioned several psalm settings and a prayer for Barley’s psalter (1599).

Influence and Legacy

Bennet’s work demonstrates the influence of his predecessors and contemporaries, but also his unique creativity. His madrigals, in particular, showcase his ability to blend text and melody in a way that is both expressive and innovative. His contributions to the English Madrigal School have left a lasting legacy, and his music continues to be performed and enjoyed today.