The Rise of Romantic Opera

Edward Joseph Dent FBA, also known as Edward J. Dent, was an English musicologist, teacher, translator, and critic. Dent, a significant figure in musicology and criticism, was Professor of Music at the University of Cambridge from 1926 to 1941. Dent was born at Ribston, Yorkshire, the son of John Dent, a landowner and politician. He was educated at Bilston Grange and Eton, where he studied music under Charles Harford Lloyd. He enrolled at King's College, Cambridge, in 1895, earning a B.A. in Classical Tripos in 1898, a Mus.B. in 1899 after studying under Charles Wood and Charles Villiers Stanford, and an M.A. in 1902. In March 1902, he was elected a Fellow of his institution after achieving distinction in music as both a researcher and a composer. Dent was Professor of Music at Cambridge University from 1926 to 1941, when he taught Arthur Bliss, Arnold Cooke, and Cecil Armstrong Gibbs. He served as President of the International Society of Composers and Musicians from 1922 to 1938, as well as the International Music Society from 1931 to 1949. He was the governor of Sadler's Wells Opera and translated numerous libretti for it. He wrote notable publications about Alessandro Scarlatti, Ferruccio Busoni, Handel, English operas, and Mozart's operas.