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CHAPTER IV |
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STERNDALE BENNETT, HULLAH, AND HATTON
A
S a complete contrast to the songs of Benedict and Balfe, the latter more parÂticularly, the songs of Sir William Sterndale Bennett, though forming only a very small proportion of his musical compositions, may fitly be considered here, before passing on to the popular ballads which were in vogue some fifty years ago.
Bennett is described by the writer in Grove as "the only English musical composer since Purcell who has attained a distinct style and individuality of his own " ; while of his songs he says: "They are small compositions of almost Greek elegance and finish, both in the melodious and expressive character of the voice part, and the delicate suggestiveness of the accompaniments."
Some of them were immensely popular, notably "Gentle Zephyr," the first of his published songs. This was afterwards included in his first set of six songs, published in 1842, among
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