Eric Blom

Eric Walter Blom CBE (20 August 1888 - 11 April 1959) was a Swiss-born British-naturalised music lexicographer, musicologist, music critic, music biographer and translator. He is best known as the editor of the 5th edition of Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians (1954).

Eric Blom in 1942

Quotes

Everyman's Dictionary of Music (London: J. M Dent & Sons; 3rd ed. 1958)

• In future editions many of those who may die in the meantime will, of course, be added. All the same, it is hoped that this announcement will not start an immediate wave of suicide among singers and players.
  • Explaining that he has excluded living performers. Preface, p. vi.

• Blues. An American dance stemming from the Foxtrot, the speed of which it reduced and into which it brought a deliberately contrived dismal atmosphere. When Blues are sung their words seem to aim at attaining to the utmost depths of gloom and inanity.
  • Article, Blues, p. 60

• Crooning. A reprehensible form of singing that established itself in light entertainment music in about the 1930s. It recommended itself at first to would-be singers without voices who were unable to acquire an adequate technique and later to a large public because anything, however inartistic, is likely to become popular if only it is done often enough by a large enough number of people.
  • Article, Crooning, p. 121

External links

• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (subscription only)