Benjamin, George William John (1960- )

English composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a pupil of Olivier Messiaen, and his colourful and sonorous works include Ringed by the Flat Horizon (1980), A Mind of Winter (1981), At First Light (1982), Antara (1985-7), and Cascade (1990).

He studied with Messiaen in Paris from 1974, at the Paris Conservatory in 1977, and with Alexander Goehr at Cambridge. At the 1983 Aldeburgh Festival he gave the first performance of Benjamin Britten's Sonatina Romantica (1940). Returning to France, he worked 1984-87 at the electronic music studios at the Institut de Recherche et de Co-ordination Acoustique/Musique (IRCAM).

Works Orchestral Jubilation for orchestra and groups of children (1985), Antara for orchestra with electronics (1985-87), Cascade (1990), Helix (1992), Sudden Time (1993).

Chamber At First Light, for chamber orchestra (1982); violin sonata (1977), octet (1978), duo for cello and piano (1980), Meditations on Haydn's Name, for piano (1982).

Vocal A Mind of Winter, for soprano and ensemble; Upon Silence for mezzo and five viols (1990).