Composer and broadcaster Andrew Ford considers the nature and purpose of music in the context of his own life - what it is, why it means so much to us and how it works in our lives. From his early childhood in the Beatles-crazy Liverpool of the 1960s to his evolving work as a composer, choral conductor, concert promoter, critic, university teacher and radio presenter, he shares the vivid musical experiences that have shaped his life.

The Memory of Music is a moving and evocative memoir that will appeal to music lovers everywhere. Ford excels at capturing the way different kinds of music affect us - how a piece of religious music can transport us regardless of our beliefs, or how a pop song can call up an instant recollection from the past (a family holiday, a girlfriend).