This biography traces his story through personal struggles and artistic triumphs, and offers an assessment of his place in the pantheon of major Scottish artists. It is a story of resilience as well as innovation: twice diagnosed with unrelated cancers, his professional career lasted little more than a decade, and he fought serious illness for half of it. He died in January 2005, aged 33. Yet his art continues to inspire: where he led, others have followed, and his music still wins awards and fills concert halls at major international festivals two decades after his death.
Martyn Bennett was an artist ahead of his time. Piper, violinist, composer, producer, DJ – his radical blend of tradition and technology created an audacious new sound that was uniquely his own.
Steeped in the folk cultures of Scotland, yet inspired too by deep-rooted traditions from far beyond, his music ignored boundaries and celebrated cultural difference wherever he found it. Although classically trained, he was drawn to the gritty excitement of the urban dance club scene, and his fusion of folk, classical, jazz and hard-edged electronica was championed by the likes of Peter Gabriel and the folklorist Hamish Henderson who labelled it ‘brave new music’.
This biography traces his story through personal struggles and artistic triumphs, and offers an assessment of his place in the pantheon of major Scottish artists. It is a story of resilience as well as innovation: twice diagnosed with unrelated cancers, his professional career lasted little more than a decade, and he fought serious illness for half of it. He died in January 2005, aged 33. Yet his art continues to inspire: where he led, others have followed, and his music still wins awards and fills concert halls at major international festivals two decades after his death.
Reviews
The legacy of one of Scotland’s most innovative and beloved musicians is to be celebrated with a new biography. MARK MACDOUGALL, The Herald
This biography traces his story through personal struggles and artistic triumphs, and offers an assessment of his place in the pantheon of major Scottish artists. It is a story of resilience as well as innovation... GLASGOW LIFE
A man who was arguably one of Scotland's greatest, most avant-garde contemporary composer musicians. SALLY McDONALD, The Sunday Post
Gary West marshals all this – and more – with considerable skill, alongside informed assessments of Bennett’s recordings. There is much about Bennett’s later years that is tragic, but Bennett himself was quite the mischievous sprite, full of humour, and what shines through above all is his determination to present the music he heard in his imagination to the very best standards. ROB ADAMS, UK Jazz News
There are times you feel you sitting next to Martyn as he is composing and that has got to be the ultimate accolade for a biography... This biography is a delight, it is intimate and personal yet expansive and contextual.JOHN SLAVIN, Bagpipe News
Martyn Bennett’s importance in the advancement of music cannot be overstated. All art must evolve in order to survive. But the delicate balancing act between the past and the future needs a skilled artist to properly serve both sides. Martyn Bennett was such a figure. The world of contemporary folk would be the poorer without his contribution. Not only in Scotland and the UK, but internationally. The way he could advance this revered art form while remaining true to its roots is a story to inspire artists of all disciplines. His loss was a personal one to many who knew and loved this singular individual. But in the retelling of his remarkable story to future artists, our culture could be all the richer. PHILL JUPITUS
Martyn Bennett was the most inspirational and gifted musician to come out of Scotland for generations. His vision took traditional music into a realm where angels fear to tread and created a sound that was unique and undeniably powerful. He was fearless and magnificent, an artist in the truest sense of the word - a lightning bolt of creative genius. It is vital that his story of courage and his musical legacy live on as an inspiration to future generations of musicians and artists and that is why the planned biography of him should be supported by all of us who feel deeply privileged to have known him. DAVID HAYMAN
Martyn Bennett was so important a figure in music here in Scotland that it is impossible to exaggerate either his cultural importance or the influence his work has had on the musical creativity of the next, and indeed the now, generation. Not just nationally, but in the sphere of world-music.LIZ LOCHHEAD
This guy is bloody great!Sean Connery
Scots music has never sounded like this before. No music has ever sounded like this before.MOJO
There is no-one else on earth so modern and so ancient at the same time: so true to our roots and so free in creating new sounds.The Scotsman
He was an enormously gifted, soulful, passionate, generous musician.PETER GABRIEL
A gentle and generous figure with a ready sense of humour.The Telegraph
Star of the Celtic music scene with a unique pipes and beats sound.The Guardian
GARY WEST is a senior lecturer in Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh. He is also an active traditional musician and teacher, and presents a weekly programme,