Music’s Odyssey

Enthusiasts picking up this book will straightaway recognise a companion for life. They will be inexhaustibly educated, provoked and amused by the absoluteness of its commitment and the sharpness of its judgement … the book’s endearing loquacity, humour and energy bring to mind the literary fecundity of a Burgess or a Joyce. It is hard to believe that one person possesses and has been able to put on paper such an accumulation of knowledge

Jonathan Gaisman, The Critic

Holloway's writing has a distinctive and individual voice – most enjoyable when he is either rhapsodising or excoriating ... like sitting in a university tutorial with the most inspiring teacher

Bernard Hughes, ArtsDesk

The delight sings loudly off the page ... [Holloway] is fascinated by musical lineage and is a meticulous tracer and charter of influence , throwing cables across centuries and pulling seemingly disparate figures suddenly near. Irreverent , outspoken and unfailingly opinionated, with knowledge as broad as his vocabulary, [he[ offers an unofficial alternative account [of the history of Western music]; 'an enthusiast's record of delighted discoveries'; and a playful compendium ... alongside close listening and biographical fragments. Saying the unsayable is a repeated theme .... he wrestles with the toughest of repertoire and wins

Alexandra Coghlan, Spectator

Music's Odyssey is a summation of [Robin Holloway]'s work as a writer on music ... an idiosyncratic and personal tour of the glories of classical music. Holloway loves to trace influence and lineage, but more delightful are the wormholes he finds between centuries ... he toys with tailoring his writing, chamelon-like, to echo the musical style of his subjects ... each word is worth savouring

Rebecca Franks, The Times

Holloway’s new book has seemingly felicitous combinations of ... an ear for influence and sometimes unlikely connections found in Ross; an authority and forthrightness bestowed by erudition as with Taruskin; and an attractive concision similar to Scholes. Holloway’s new book has seemingly felicitous combinations of all the above: an ear for influence and sometimes unlikely connections found in Ross; an authority and forthrightness bestowed by erudition as with Taruskin; and an attractive concision similar to Scholes. [It also benefits from] the invaluable dual standpoint of a highly distinguished composer and academic ... a monumental, profoundly valuable book

Dominic Hartley, Music Web International