Richard Dyer-Bennet: Tenor, Guitarist To Sing at College

It's been fifty years since musician Richard Dyer-Bennet visited the College of Saint Teresa campus in Winona, Minnesota, which is where Bellairs taught during 1964-65 school year.  Bellairs first encountered Dyer-Bennet when the singer visited the University of Notre Dame campus during the 1957-58 school year. Dyer-Bennet performed on the Saint Teresa campus on Jan. 20, and we'll discuss the event in a few days.

Tenor, Guitarist To Sing at College

Winona Daily News, Friday, Jan. 15, 1965

Richard Dyer-Bennet, noted tenor and guitarist, will appear in the College of Saint Teresa auditorium at 8 p.m. January 20. All seats are reserved.

In his recital here, Dyer-Bennet will present some of the more than 600 folk songs in his repertoire, a collection which "Look" Magazine described as "a six-century hit parade."

These melodies range from the song of victory sung by the conquering soldiers after the battle of Agincourt to the ballads which came into being during World War II and include tunes which might have delighted Queen Elizabeth, haunting sea chanteys and the American heritage of work and play music. 

In addition to folk-songs, the tenor is interested in the rarer art songs of great composers, particularly the little-known music of the 16th and 17th centuries.

Born in England and reared in this country, Dyer-Bennet has been an important influence in creating the present revival of interest in folk music in the United States.

Describing Dyer-Bennet, the New York Times reported recently: "In addition to being a singer he is an excellent guitarist, and besides being an entertainer, he is a composer and musicologist. One thing that sets him apart from other singers is the range of his repertoire. Knowing foreign languages, he does not rely exclusively on the songs of America and the British Isles, and having a scholarly mind, he finds out-of-the-way songs. He fills the stage with a gallery of wistful, touching, humorous characters."

His concerts in Manhattan's Town Hall and in auditoriums across North America have earned him critical acclaim, and together with his records for his own company, Dyer-Bennett Recordings have made him a favorite with audiences.