9th question in series: "minor composers and their compositions" : ROBERT RUSSELL BENNETT -- your assessment?

Question

NOTICE: because of the small number of responses this series has received so far(even though their quality has been great), plan to terminate it should they not increase to a meaningful degree. It might might be helpful if more of you would star them: would much appreciate it.
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Each question in this series posted every Wednesday.
(a link to each previous question will be posted)

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This week's featured composer nominated by "myself".

Robert Russell Bennett 1894 - 1981

A Wikipea bio.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Russell_Bennett

Some would probably consider him to not qualify for a series such as this; for his forte it would seem was not composition, but as an arranger of others music: but I feel that in his "arranging", he was really in essence, composing.

A child prodigy and afflicted by polio from an early age(both of which I was not aware), he obviously became a dedicated and conscientious musician; and willing to play second fiddle to acclaimed greats of the time throughout his life: which bespeaks of an admirable degree of humility and incredible forbearance.

To his great good fortune, studied with Nadia Boulanger - a noteworthy inclusion in any musician's resume. But all the above can be read in the Wikipedia article.

I relate to him best for his arranging of the themes/melodies composed by Richard Rogers he so masterfully incorporated into the soundtrack for what I think is one of even not the greatest of TV documentaries ever, "Victory at Sea"; You Tube has a posting of it in its entirety, consisting of 65 videos:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=victory+at+sea&search_type=&aq=0&oq=victory+at+s

Some of his original compositions and famous arrangements:


http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=robert+russell+bennett&search_type=&aq=0&oq=robert+russell

So, what's your assessment of this most noteworthy arranger, and would be composer?

Instead of the usual rating of 1-10(10 being most definitely)of whether or not one or more of compositions should be performed at least once every 5 years or so by major musical ensembles, rate if you will instead, his "impact" on his contemporaries and music in general in the past/currently/and in the future.

Next week's featured composer Barbara Strozzi, nominated by "hafwen".

Alberich

Answer 1

The problem I have with noted arrangers of music is that the music they are noted for arranging isn’t their own. Which is why they seldom become more than respected arrangers of other people’s music.



I could take copies of the most famous paintings in the world, clip and copy and paste them together, arranging them in a large collage, but doing so does not mean that I’ve contributed greatly to the world of painting. It only means that I’ve arranged someone else’s paintings.



I listened to the You Tube videos of Bennett’s original music and thought it was passable, certainly better then anything I could compose. But compared to more recognized and accepted composers, his original compositions paled.



There are many original composers who deserve more recognition for their original works, like the African American composer Ulysses Kay or modern composers like David Lanz and Robert Ashley.

Answer 2

I understand your concern that Bennett should probably be given top billing for Victory at Sea, since Richard Rodgers only wrote the melodies and Bennett did the rest of the work:



https://answersrip.com/question/index?qid=20080601102423AATYHXI



After all, Corelli is given top billing for La Folia, Max Bruch is given top billing for the Scottish Fantasy, and Sarasate is given top billing for the Carmen Fantasy.



However, I didn't have the patience to listen to all of it. I listened to his suite of old American dances and his accordion nocturnes.



I must be reverse ethnocentric, because I'm American and I don't go much for American classical music. Benstein, Gershwin, Copland--they're all the same to me. Why do I have to get up and dance every time I hear something loud, fast, and syncopated?

Answer 3

... thanks for finding this



not to answer your question, but I remember "Victory at Sea" from childhood as one of the most enjoyable musical experiences available on TV. I *have* to give thumbs-up on Russell for having been a participant.



One thing weird I can now glimmeringly rememebr is that the composer of V@S music *seemed* to borrow heavily from Wagner (if he wrote whatever it was called "Entrance of the Gods into Valhalla" )



Victory at Sea seems to have had a segment which was a direct copy (almost)





I speak *totally* from decades old memory, so my observations are suspect and dubious.



But I loved Victory at Sea as a kid, and the music was a BIG part of it



thanks for the question .. please excuse my rambling thought