MUMBAI: Winner of BAFTA award and Oscar nominated composer, Sir Richard Rodney Bennett passed away on Christmas Eve (24 December) in New York.

Aged 76, Bennett was a composer of classical and jazz music, regularly performing as a jazz pianist and regarded as being one of the most accomplished jazz pianists of his generation. His major works included three symphonies and an opera, The Mines of Sulphur and Reflections on a Scottish Folk Song for cello and string orchestra, which was commissioned by Prince Charles to commemorate his grandmother the Queen.

In addition, he also scored music for many Hollywood films which won him several recognitions in his career.

His score for Sidney Lumet's ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ won a BAFTA award in 1974, and was also nominated for an Academy Award. He was also honoured with a CBE in 1977 and received a knighthood in 1998.

Bennett's scores for other films like ‘Far From the Madding Crowd’ and ‘Nicholas and Alexandra’ also received Oscar nominations. His other popular film compositions include ‘Enchanted April’ and ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’.

He also composed for several TV shows in his career like ‘Doctor Who’, ‘The Aztecs’ and ‘Gormenghast’ amongst others.