Arthur Eaglefield Hull

Who was Arthur Eaglefield Hull?

Arthur Eaglefield Hull was an English music critic, writer, composer and organist.

Initially a music student of the pianist and theorist Tobias Matthay, he graduated with a Doctorate of Music from Oxford University. He lived in Huddersfield in Yorkshire, and became an editor of several music publications including The Monthly Musical Record, International Library of Books on Music, Library of Music and musicians, The Music Lover's library and others. He also taught the piano and organ privately with Frederic Lord being one of his notable pupils.

Hull wrote a biography of Alexander Scriabin, and coined the term "mystic chord" to describe the harmonic and melodic device which the Russian composer used in some of his later works. He also wrote a living biography of another mystically inclined composer, Cyril Scott, for whom he had a high regard, calling him "at the least, the equal of those of any other country". Hull translated and edited biographies of Mussorgsky, Handel, Beethoven and others. He also wrote books and articles on subjects such as musical harmony and organ technique, was a composer and arranger, and produced editions of music scores. He was the general editor for the reference work, "A Dictionary of Modern Music and Musicians", which covered the period from 1880 onwards.