Jonathan Cross

"Music is like Knitting, John", the pre-eminent Accrington-born composer of modern times once told me while we were flaying his lunch for him at the small townhouse he used to own in Twickenham. I must have told him a thousand times my name was Robert, but Harry was like that. Useless with names. Always getting Peter Maxwell Davies mixed up with Peter, Paul & Mary - that sort of thing. Mind you, easily done. I never quite understood what he meant by comparing music to knitting until I actually heard some of his music.

I've stuck with the books about him since then. Much safer by half.… (more)