Richard Rodney Bennett - classical and film composer

Sir Richard Rodney Bennett's formal training is decidedly classical, having studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London and then under Pierre Boulez in Paris. However he has always had an interest in Jazz and improvisation. Though the formal education resulted in his writing much in the classical vein, with regular concert works and many recordings available. He has also had some success in the Jazz arena both as composer and pianist, and worked with the singer Cleo Laine and John Dankworth for a period. He has also contributed significantly to the movie scene with scores for a number of films, particularly films of British origin. He started in the film industry putting together the music for those documentaries that used to be shown as a filler along with a main feature. He then progressed onto scoring those main features themselves, starting with a string of Horror movies, Comedies and Thrillers. Though he has a broad musical experience, his best-known film work has tended to be period dramas or productions with a literary origin.

Not having worked on hollywood blockbusters his music has tended not to be full of in-your-face pulsating excitment but more thoughtful, reflective and artistic in nature. Yet his music manages to fulfil the role demanded of it and also stand up on its own as music with a certain intrinsic interest. His composition style can be quite modern at times which is relatively unusual in film music, but equally he can adopt romantic and lyrical styles when the situation demands. For "Murder on the Orient Express", Bennett put together a collection of themes including an exuberant waltz, and a Charleston-like dance theme which is given many treatments in a variety of styles, and some suspenseful underscore at suitable moments in the plot. His music for the TV series Gormenghast is highly recommended, but Amazon don't seem to stock the soundtrack CD. However they do have the music to his first oscar nominated score for "Far from the Madding Crowd" at these links: Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com.

Although based in Britain for many years and knighted in 1998, Bennett now stays in New York. Recently he has appeared in Manhattan's Encore Club playing cabaret songs. Also recently he has been commissioned to compose a piece to celebrate the late Queen Mother. The work is for cello and orchestra and called "Reflections of a Scottish Folksong". It is due to receive its premier performance in 2006 with Paul Watkins playing the solo part.

Films by Richard Rodney Bennett:

• Blind Date
• The Man who could Cheat Death
• The Devil Never Sleeps - aka Satan Never Sleeps
• The Devil's Disciple
• The Witches - aka Satan Never Sleeps
• Billy Liar - for John Schlesinger
• Far from the Madding Crowd - also for John Schlesinger
• Billion Dollar Brain
• Lady Caroline Lamb - the composer later adapted the music into a concert piece subtitled "Elegy for Viola and Orchestra"
• Nicholas and Alexandra
• Murder on the Orient Express - a Viennese Waltz and 20s style music creates a backdrop for the protagonists' life of leisure before murder strikes among the travellers
• Yanks - another John Schlesinger film
• Enchanted April - based on a novel about English ladies staying in an Italian villa, the music features an Ondes Martenot which is an early electronic keyboard instrument
• Four Weddings and a Funeral - Bennett was reportedly sued by a French composer who claimed that a four note sequence had been stolen

TV work by Richard Rodney Bennett:

• Doctor Who - contributed to the series during its black and white William Hartnell days for the historical story "The Aztecs", whereas Geoffrey Burgon did some work during the Tom Baker era
• Murder with Mirrors - another Agatha Christie adaptation
• Tender is the Night - a TV miniseries adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, "Nicole's theme" from the series has since been recorded
• The Charmer - TV series with Nigel Havers
• The Tale of Sweeney Todd
• Gormenghast - Fantastical music for a fantastical serial, John Taverner providing the choral music

Note: Richard Rodney Bennett the composer is not to be confused with the director Rodney Bennett who has also worked extensively on British television programmes including Doctor Who for example.

Recommendations:

In addition to his film music, Richard Rodney Bennett has composed much for the concert hall and the following is a small sample of his recorded music.

• Complete Works for Solo Piano (double CD), played by Martin Jones - Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
• The British Music Collection - Richard Rodney Bennett - Piano Concerto No.1, Concerto For Stan Getz and some film music - Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
• Sea Change - The Choral Music of Richard Rodney Bennett - Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com