Ashton, Algernon (Bennet Langton)

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Ashton, Algernon (Bennet Langton)

Ashton, Algernon (Bennet Langton), English composer; b. Durham, Dec. 9, 1859; d. London, April 10, 1937. He studied with Reinecke and Jadassohn at the Leipzig Cons. (1875–79) and Raff in Frankfurt am Main (1880), and then taught piano at the Royal Coll. of Music in London (1885–1910). His works followed mainly along conventional German lines and included 5 syms., a Piano Concerto, a Violin Concerto, much chamber music, many piano pieces, organ works, choral music, and numerous songs. Although he failed to receive much recognition as a composer, he acquired a certain notoriety by his curious letters in the English press, many of which were publ. in his vols. Truth, Wit and Wisdom (London, 1904) and More Truth, Wit and Wisdom (London, 1905).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire