an expert on painting, sculpture, and literature as well as music, lambert differed from most of his fellow english composers of the time in his acute and prophetic perception of the importance of jazz. he responded positively to the music of duke ellington. his embrace of music outside the 'serious' repertoire is illustrated by his book "music ho!" (1934), subtitled "a study of music in decline", which remains one of the wittiest, if most highly opinionated, volumes of music criticism in the english language. close friends of his included michael ayrton, sacheverell sitwell and anthony powell. he was the prototype of the character hugh moreland in powell's "a dance to the music of time".