One Man's Music is a love story — the story of Peter Gammond's relationship with music from earliest childhood. The growth of the relationship is, has been — and still is — deltaic, branching out through every phase and aspect of Western European and North American music: classical, light, jazz and even pop. Despite its range and depth, the book is not the least degree a textbook or scholarly treatise. But is: HISTORICAL neither formally nor chronologically but ranging through the key developments in all periods of music; CRITICAL it makes no pretence to be comprehensive but deals with many individual composers and styles; WIDE-RANGING It examines all types of music from classics to pop: orchestral music, church music, opera, musical comedy, popular music and jazz; PERSONAL the approach is frankly individual, often autobiographical; ENTERTAINING. the subject matter is fascinating and the style — with more than a sprinkling of satirical humour — is extremely engaging; KNOWLEDGEABLE the personal approach is complemented by a wealth of reference material of a catholic and unpredictable nature. Aged 93, Peter lives in Shepperton with his wife Anna where they still enjoy listening to music.
