Dent, Edward J(oseph) (1876-1957)

English musicologist and composer. His books include works on Alessandro Scarlatti, Mozart's operas, English opera, Handel, and Ferruccio Busoni, and his compositions include polyphonic motets and a version of The Beggar's Opera. He was president of the International Society for Contemporary Music from its foundation in 1922 until 1938.

He was educated at Eton and at Cambridge University, where he was professor of music 1926-41. He was a governor of Sadler's Wells Opera, for which he translated many works, and was on the editorial board of the New Oxford History of Music.