E. Markham (Ernest Markham) Lee

Born in Cambridge on June 8, 1874, Ernest Markham Lee—often published as E. Markham Lee—built a varied career as a composer, author, lecturer, pianist, and organist. Reference listings for his work place him firmly in both the musical and literary worlds, and surviving catalogs identify him with a small but notable body of compositions as well as a long list of music books.

Lee is especially remembered for writing clear introductory books such as The Story of Opera and The Story of Symphony, which helped general readers get closer to classical music. His surviving compositions include piano and choral works such as A Modern Suite and Alice in Wonderland, showing the same broad, audience-friendly musical interests found in his writing.

He died in Eastbourne on November 13, 1956. Although he is not widely known today, records of his publications and musical activity suggest a dependable guide for listeners who wanted music explained with knowledge, enthusiasm, and plain good sense.