Music for life - Fiona Maddocks

How does music reflect the key moments in our lives?
How do we choose the works that inspire, delight, comfort or console? Fiona Maddocks selects 100 classical works from across nine centuries, arguing passionately, persuasively and at times obstinately for their inclusion, putting each work in its cultural and musical context, discussing omissions, suggesting alternatives and always putting the music first.

Fiona Maddocks is the Classical Music critic of the Observer. She was founder editor of BBC Music Magazine and chief arts feature writer for the London Evening Standard, and has written for numerous other publications. She is the author of Hildegard of Bingen: The Woman of Her Age (Faber) and Harrison Birtwistle: Wild Tracks - A Conversation Diary with Fiona Maddocks (Faber).

Fiona Maddocks's descriptions are dangerously moreish...a timely reminder of the importance of music.
BBC Music Magazine - Anna Picard

Most of us turn to music for support at emotionally challenging moments. In this personal selection of "music to see you through", Fiona Maddocks, music critic of The Observer, gives succinct thoughts on the emotional import of works ranging from the evident to the surprising, in categories ranging from humour to mourning. It's one of those short-sectioned, dip-in books, but Maddocks' writing is as exquisitely chiselled as the finest cut crystal and involves no need to ramble...the book looks like a chocolate box, but its content is meaty.
JDCMB - Jessica Duchen

Wonderful . . . Her selection is sensationally eclectic . . . a first-aid kit that should be stocked in every pharmacy. It provides an instant remedy for almost every urgent physical need.
Standpoint - Norman Lebrecht