The Life of William Sterndale Bennett
By his Son, J. R. Sterndale Bennett

Table of Contents

Part I. Childhood, Education and Visits to Germany 1816–39:
1. Parentage and childhood, to 1826
2. School-days, 1826–33
3. Advanced studentship, 1833–6
4. Leipzig, 1836–7
5. London and, again, Leipzig, 1837–9
Part II. A Young Musician in London 1839–47:
6. Portland Chambers, 1839–41
7. Composition in Portland Chambers, 1839–41
8. Hesse-Cassel, Leipzig, Berlin, 1842
9. The Philharmonic Society. The musical season of 1842
10. Correspondence with Mendelssohn, 1842–3
11. Marriage. Correspondence continued, 1844–6
12. The unforeseen stroke. Death of Mendelssohn, 1846–7
Part III. A Harsh Rebuff. Quiet Spheres of Artistic Usefulness 1848–55:
13. Rupture with Costa and the Philharmonic Society. Occupations as a teacher, 1848
14. The Bach Society. Chamber Concerts, 1849–55
15. Correspondence with the Schumanns. Great Exhibition of 1851. Revivial of the Philharmonic Trouble. Conductorship of Gewandhaus Concerts. Production of Bach's 'Passion-Musik', 1850–5
Part IV. Called to the Front 1855–66:
16. Public appointments, 1855–6
17. The Cambridge professorship
18. Difference with the Philharmonic Directors. Bach Society. The Earl of Westmorland and the R.A. of Music, 1856–8
19. Leeds Festival. 'The May Queen', 1858
20. The chorale book for England, 1859–61
21. His position at the Philharmonic assured. Withdrawal of the society's orchestra, 1859–61
22. The International Exhibition of 1862, 1861–2
23. A year of contrasting imports. Installation of the Chancellor at Cambridge. Jubilee of the Philharmonic Society. Domestic bereavement, 1862
24. He faces sorrow. A Symphony in G Minor. The Professorship of Music at Edinburgh. He resigns the Philharmonic conductorship, 1862–6
Part V. Repayment of Debt to Alma Matter 1866–75:
25. The Royal Academy of Music. Bennett is appointed Principal, 1866–7
26. Cambridge Professorship. 'The Woman of Samaria', 1867
27. A crisis at the R.A. of Music, 1867–8
28. Cambridge local examinations. Additions to 'The Woman of Samaria'. Associations with Germany. Uppingham School, 1868
29. Government grant restored to the R.A. of Music. The R.A. of Music and the Society of Arts, 1868–9
30. Compositions. Some circumstances of his private life, 1869–70
31. Bennett with the Academy students, 1866–74
32. Honours and rewards, 1870–2
33. Compositions. The R.A. of Music and the Albert Hall, 1872–3
34. Some personal characteristics
35. Last days, 1873–5
Appendix
Index.