The Making of Music

Our Music is the story of our musical history, its origins and it has shaped us. We have all grown up with a common background noise, whether we realise it or not. The tradition of European music that took shape in medieval monasteries, then in churches and courts, and moved into the salons, concert halls and theatres in later centuries, is our cultural bloodstream.

James Naughtie delves into the colourful, turbulent world of music its characters, traditions and mysterious power in a delightfully lively and personal way. His story is richly peopled and animated by moments of drama: what it was like at the first night of The Rite of Spring, when the dancers could neither hear their instructions nor could Stravinsky continue conducting because the booing was so loud; how it must have felt for Beethoven to scratch Napoleon s name off the dedication page of the Eroica Symphony because he believed the emperor to have betrayed the French Revolution.

As when presenting the Proms, James Naughtie brings to Our Music that particular blend of expertise and approachability set to delight the aficionado and the uninitiated alike.

“Romantic and rapturous, divertingly anecdotal and enthusiastic - The Times[Naughtie s] real passion should easily entice anyone who reads about the works he praises to go and listen to them as soon as is practicable - Sunday TelegraphImmensely readable a cracking good yarn - ScotsmanConsistently engaging It is enthralling, a very fine book. For Everyman - HeraldA genial, meandering but ultimately purposeful journey through the social history of music . . . this book is rich in anecdote, and it is all the better for it - Guardian”

Romantic and rapturous, divertingly anecdotal and enthusiastic - The Times

[Naughtie s] real passion should easily entice anyone who reads about the works he praises to go and listen to them as soon as is practicable - Sunday Telegraph

Immensely readable a cracking good yarn - Scotsman

Consistently engaging It is enthralling, a very fine book. For Everyman - Herald

A genial, meandering but ultimately purposeful journey through the social history of music . . . this book is rich in anecdote, and it is all the better for it - Guardian

James Naughtie has presented Radio 4's Today programme since 1994. Previous journalistic roles have included working as Chief Political Correspondent for the Scotsman and presenting Radio 4's The Week in Westminster. Since 1992 he has presented the Proms on television, and for two years he presented Opera News on Radio 3. He chairs Radio 4's monthly Bookclub and regularly presents election and by-election specials. He has written three political books: Playing the Palace, Rivals and The Accidental American. He is married with three children.

Our Music is the story of our musical history, its origins and it has shaped us. We have all grown up with a common background noise, whether we realise it or not. The tradition of European music that took shape in medieval monasteries, then in churches and courts, and moved into the salons, concert halls and theatres in later centuries, is our cultural bloodstream. James Naughtie delves into the colourful, turbulent world of music its characters, traditions and mysterious power in a delightfully lively and personal way. His story is richly peopled and animated by moments of drama: what it was like at the first night of The Rite of Spring, when the dancers could neither hear their instructions nor could Stravinsky continue conducting because the booing was so loud; how it must have felt for Beethoven to scratch Napoleon s name off the dedication page of the Eroica Symphony because he believed the emperor to have betrayed the French Revolution. As when presenting the Proms, James Naughtie brings to Our Music that particular blend of expertise and approachability set to delight the aficionado and the uninitiated alike.

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