Martyn Bennett
Encyclopedia
Martyn Bennett was a Scottish
musician who was born in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
, Canada
. He was extremely influential in the evolution of modern Celtic fusion
, a blending of traditional Celtic
and modern music.
, piano
and composing at the age of 15 at the City of Edinburgh Music School
, continuing his studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
in 1990. He was a member of the traditional music and dance group Drumalban in his early years, along with his mother and many friends.
In 1993, just before graduating, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer
, which he related to the suffocating and stressful environment of the classical
world where "enjoyment of the music [...] was out-weighed by the pressure to succeed." In 1994, he began to spend more time with his first musical love, folk and traditional, and it was not much later that he started to experiment with electronica
. He performed at the world premiere party for the film Braveheart
.
, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma
.
His composition, Mackay's Memoirs
, was played at the opening of the Scottish Parliament
in 1999 by the band of Broughton High School.
His last album, Grit
, was recorded during his struggle with cancer and marks a drastic change in his sound since, according to notes posted on his website at the time, he became too weak to play his instruments and had to rely entirely on samples and synthesizer
s in order to keep creating music.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
musician who was born in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He was extremely influential in the evolution of modern Celtic fusion
Celtic Fusion
Celtic fusion is an umbrella term for modern music which incorporates influences considered "Celtic," or Celtic music which incorporates modern music. It is a syncretic musical tradition which borrows freely from the perceived "Celtic" musical traditions of all the Celtic nations, as well as from...
, a blending of traditional Celtic
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
and modern music.
Early years
He began playing the Great Highland Bagpipes at the age of 10, and by the time he was 12 he was winning prizes at piping competitions in Scotland. He then took up violinViolin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and composing at the age of 15 at the City of Edinburgh Music School
City of Edinburgh Music School
The City of Edinburgh Music School is a state-maintained music school in Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded as the Lothian Specialist Music School in 1980, it changed its name in 1996 when Lothian Regional Council was dissolved into four separate unitary councils. It is a non-residential...
, continuing his studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a conservatoire of music, drama, and dance in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Educational Association, it is the busiest performing arts venue in Scotland...
in 1990. He was a member of the traditional music and dance group Drumalban in his early years, along with his mother and many friends.
In 1993, just before graduating, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer
Testicular cancer
Testicular cancer is cancer that develops in the testicles, a part of the male reproductive system.In the United States, between 7,500 and 8,000 diagnoses of testicular cancer are made each year. In the UK, approximately 2,000 men are diagnosed each year. Over his lifetime, a man's risk of...
, which he related to the suffocating and stressful environment of the classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
world where "enjoyment of the music [...] was out-weighed by the pressure to succeed." In 1994, he began to spend more time with his first musical love, folk and traditional, and it was not much later that he started to experiment with electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
. He performed at the world premiere party for the film Braveheart
Braveheart
Braveheart is a 1995 epic historical drama war film directed by and starring Mel Gibson. The film was written for the screen and then novelized by Randall Wallace...
.
Career
In 1996, Bennett released his first self-titled album on Eclectic Records. In 1998 he released Bothy Culture, his most successful album. In 2000, just a few months after a highly acclaimed headlining set at the Cambridge Folk FestivalCambridge Folk Festival
The Cambridge Folk Festival is an annual music festival held on the site of Cherry Hinton Hall in Cherry Hinton, one of the villages subsumed by the city of Cambridge, England. The festival is renowned for its eclectic mix of music and a wide definition of what might be considered folk. It occurs...
, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma
Hodgkin's lymphoma
Hodgkin's lymphoma, previously known as Hodgkin's disease, is a type of lymphoma, which is a cancer originating from white blood cells called lymphocytes...
.
His composition, Mackay's Memoirs
Mackay's Memoirs (album)
Mackay's Memoirs is the last recorded work by Scottish Celtic fusion artist Martyn Bennett. It was released on April 15, 2005 by the City of Edinburgh Music School....
, was played at the opening of the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
in 1999 by the band of Broughton High School.
His last album, Grit
Grit (album)
Grit is the last studio album by Scottish celtic fusion artist Martyn Bennett. It was released October 13, 2003 on the Real World label.The song was a marked departure from his previous albums in that Martyn's was reliant on using samples as he was too weak to play his instruments...
, was recorded during his struggle with cancer and marks a drastic change in his sound since, according to notes posted on his website at the time, he became too weak to play his instruments and had to rely entirely on samples and synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s in order to keep creating music.
Discography
- Martyn BennettMartyn Bennett (album)Martyn Bennett is the first studio album by Scottish celtic fusion artist Martyn Bennett. It was released 1995 on the Eclectic label.-Track listing:# "Swallowtail"# "Erin"# "Cuillin "# "Cuillin "# "Deoch An Dorus "...
(1996) - Bothy CultureBothy Culture (album)Bothy Culture is the second studio album by Scottish celtic fusion artist Martyn Bennett. It was released in 1998 on the Rykodisc label.Track four, Hallaig, features a performance by Gaelic poet Sorley MacLean of his poem of the same name....
(1997) - HardlandHardlandHardland is the 3rd studio album by Scottish celtic fusion artist Martyn Bennett. It was released in 2000 in collaboration with fellow artist/producer Martin Low.-Track listing:# "Love is Here "# "Love Machine"# "Spree"# "Threadbare"...
(with Martin Low) (2000) - Glen LyonGlen Lyon (album)Glen Lyon is the 4th studio album by Scottish Celtic fusion artist Martyn Bennett. It was released October 11, 2002 on the Footstompin' label...
(with his mother, Margaret BennettMargaret Bennett (writer)Dr. Margaret Bennett is a renowned Scottish writer, folklorist, ethnologist, broadcaster and singer. Her main interests lies in the field of traditional Scottish folk culture and cultural identity of the Scots, home and abroad...
, on vocals) (2002) - GritGrit (album)Grit is the last studio album by Scottish celtic fusion artist Martyn Bennett. It was released October 13, 2003 on the Real World label.The song was a marked departure from his previous albums in that Martyn's was reliant on using samples as he was too weak to play his instruments...
(2003) - Mackay's MemoirsMackay's Memoirs (album)Mackay's Memoirs is the last recorded work by Scottish Celtic fusion artist Martyn Bennett. It was released on April 15, 2005 by the City of Edinburgh Music School....
(performed by City of Edinburgh Music SchoolCity of Edinburgh Music SchoolThe City of Edinburgh Music School is a state-maintained music school in Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded as the Lothian Specialist Music School in 1980, it changed its name in 1996 when Lothian Regional Council was dissolved into four separate unitary councils. It is a non-residential...
) (2005)
See also
- Celtic fusionCeltic FusionCeltic fusion is an umbrella term for modern music which incorporates influences considered "Celtic," or Celtic music which incorporates modern music. It is a syncretic musical tradition which borrows freely from the perceived "Celtic" musical traditions of all the Celtic nations, as well as from...
- List of nontraditional bagpipe usage
- Margaret BennettMargaret Bennett (writer)Dr. Margaret Bennett is a renowned Scottish writer, folklorist, ethnologist, broadcaster and singer. Her main interests lies in the field of traditional Scottish folk culture and cultural identity of the Scots, home and abroad...