Gerald Abraham (1904-1988) was a distinguished musicologist, holding honorary doctorates from the unversities of Durham, Liverpool, Southampton and California. Among the official posts he held were Professor of Music at the University of Liverpool, Assistant Controller of Music at the BBC, and President of the Royal Musical Association. He wrote or edited many books on music including several volumes in The New Oxford History of Music, of which he was the General Editor. Other books include Essays on Russian and East European Music, Slavonic and Romantic Music , Studies in Russian Music and The Tradition of Western Music.