William Bennett

William Ingham Brooke Bennett (7 February 1936 – 11 May 2022) was a British flautist and teacher. He played in many English orchestras and chamber music ensembles, and as a soloist. He made more than 100 recordings, including chamber music with partners including George Malcolm, Osian Ellis, and Yehudi Menuhin. He premiered flute concertos written for him, by William Mathias, Diana Burrell and Raimundo Pineda. Bennett taught at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg in Germany and the Royal Academy of Music, and held master classes worldwide.

Early life and studies William Ingham Brooke Bennett was born in London to parents who were both architects. and has run the International Flute Summer School for 35 years.

William Bennett scale In addition to making a balalaika and a guitar whilst still at school, Bennett's dissatisfaction with the intonation of his flute led him to start altering the position of the tone holes of his flute when he was 18 years old. He invented the tuning patch, and then built his own flute at age 20. He worked to improve the scale further, in collaboration with other British flautists and makers, which helped to improve the intonation of the modern flute. Many makers use the William Bennett scales, My Favorite Encores (Southern Music) Paul Taffanel: Mignon Fantasie (Southern Music) J. S. Bach: Six Sonatas for Flute and Keyboard (Vol. 1 and 2, Chester) Sir Arthur Sullivan: Twilight for 2 Flutes and Piano (Emerson Edition) Paul A. Genin: Air Napolitain (Alry Publications) Faure: Fantaisie for 2 Flutes and Piano (Alry Publications) J. S. Bach: Sinfonia Cantata No. 209 (Pan Educational Music) Chopin: Nocturne in D-flat, for 2 flutes and piano (Alry Publications) C. Benson: Song for Wibb (Pan Educational Music) W. A. Mozart: Adagio and Rondo (Pan Educational Music) Paul Taffanel: Jean de Nivelle (Broekmans & Van Poppel B.V) Paul Taffanel: Francesca di Rimini (Broekmans & Van Poppel B.V)