Peter Benoit (b. Harelbeke, 17 August 1834; d. Antwerp, 8 March 1901) is the founder of the Flemish “National School” and as such the most remarkable 19th century Flemish composer. Yet his musical nationalism (which manifests itself almost exclusively in his works for chorus and orchestra) dates only from about 1865.

Benoit completed his studies at the conservatory, where his main teacher was F.J. Fétis, in 1857 by obtaining the Prix de Rome. This enabled him to study in Germany and Bohemia on an extended trip in 1858. Between 1959 and 1863 he lived mainly in Paris, where he was conductor of the “Bouffes” in 1862-63.

In these years he wrote a large number of instrumental works, chiefly for the piano. For many of them he immediately found a publisher, mostly in Paris. Although these compositions do not yet completely reveal his personal style, the deserve our attention, especially because they clearly surpass the average level of the Belgian piano compositions of those days. Some of his best pieces are to be found in two works that were both published as op.34: the Sonata in G flat major and the 15 Tales and Ballads.