Bernard MacLaverty was born in Northern Ireland and brought his family to Scotland in 1975. He has written five novels and five collections of short stories, as well as screenplays, dramas for both television and radio, and libretti for Scottish Opera. His novel, Grace Notes, in which music is described as emotion beyond words, was long-listed for the Booker Prize. His most recent novel, Midwinter Break, reminds us why he is regarded as one of the greatest living Irish writers. Here he selects five pieces of music that have particular resonance for him.