Music is the soundtrack to our lives. It entertains and gives private solace and inspiration, and it also tells the story of our past. Entwined with our history are the sounds that were the the symbols of power, the accompaniment to revolution, the noise of new ideas. From plainsong to jazz and from glittering Renaissance courts to Italian opera houses, James Naughtie explores the drama and the mystery of music. He visits the places that nurtured it and uncovers the characters who created it. Using his own experience of musicians and his inquisitive eye, he finds a world of imagination, genius and surprise. The Making of Music will absorb the curious as well as the committed music lover. James Naughtie uses that blend of expertise and approachability that he brings to radio and television, to tell music's passionate and original story.