Role

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Composer

Birth

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1975 in Bangor, County Down, Ireland

 

Ed Bennett is a contemporary classical music composer who was born in Bangor, Northern Ireland in 1972. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a classical pianist. Bennett began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the guitar and bass. He attended the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin, where he studied composition with Kevin O'Connell and piano with John O'Conor. Bennett's early works were influenced by the minimalist music of Steve Reich and Philip Glass, as well as the experimental music of John Cage. He also drew inspiration from rock and electronic music, which he incorporated into his compositions. In 1998, Bennett received a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied with Simon Bainbridge and Robert Saxton. Bennett's music is characterized by its rhythmic complexity, use of electronics, and incorporation of non-Western musical traditions. He has written works for a variety of ensembles, including orchestras, chamber groups, and solo performers. Some of his most notable works include "Slow Motion Music" for orchestra, "Out of Nowhere" for string quartet, and "Freefalling" for solo piano. One of Bennett's most significant works is "Mosaics," a cycle of pieces for chamber ensemble that was commissioned by the BBC in 2006. The work is inspired by the mosaics of the ancient city of Ravenna, Italy, and features intricate rhythmic patterns and shifting textures. The piece has been performed by ensembles around the world, including the London Sinfonietta and the Ensemble Modern. Another notable work by Bennett is "Psychedelia," a piece for electric guitar and ensemble that was commissioned by the RTE National Symphony Orchestra in 2010. The work features distorted guitar sounds and electronic effects, and draws inspiration from the psychedelic rock music of the 1960s. The piece has been performed by guitarist Darragh Morgan and the Crash Ensemble. Bennett has also collaborated with a number of other artists, including the choreographer Michael Keegan-Dolan and the visual artist Ailbhe Ní Bhriain. In 2014, he composed the score for Keegan-Dolan's production of "Swan Lake/Loch na hEala," which was performed by the Teac Damsa dance company. The production received critical acclaim and was awarded the Irish Times Theatre Award for Best Production. In addition to his work as a composer, Bennett is also a professor of composition at Trinity College Dublin. He has been a guest lecturer at universities around the world, including the Royal Academy of Music in London and the University of California, Berkeley. He has also served as a judge for a number of composition competitions, including the BBC Proms Inspire Young Composers' Competition. Bennett's music has been performed at festivals around the world, including the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the Gaudeamus Muziekweek in Amsterdam, and the Tectonics Festival in Glasgow. He has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Arts Council of Ireland's Composer Bursary Award and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award for Composers. Overall, Ed Bennett is a highly regarded composer who has made significant contributions to the contemporary classical music scene. His music is characterized by its rhythmic complexity, use of electronics, and incorporation of non-Western musical traditions.

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