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Rough Ideas: Reflections on Music and More
Stephen Hough is indisputably one of the world's leading pianists, winning global acclaim and numerous awards, both for his concerts and recordings. He is also a writer, composer and painter and was recently described by the Economist as one of '20 Living Polymaths'.
As an international performer he spends much of his life at airports, on planes, and in hotel rooms - and this book expands notes he has made, in his words, 'during that dead time on the road'.
He writes about music and the life of a musician, from exploring the broader aspects of what it is to walk out on to a stage or to make a recording, to specialist tips from deep inside the practice room: how to trill, how to pedal, how to practise. He also writes vividly about people he's known, places he's travelled to, books he's read, paintings he's seen; and touches on more controversial subjects, such as assisted suicide and abortion. Even religion is there - the possibility of the existence of God, problems with some biblical texts and the challenge involved in being a gay Catholic.
As an international performer he spends much of his life at airports, on planes, and in hotel rooms - and this book expands notes he has made, in his words, 'during that dead time on the road'.
He writes about music and the life of a musician, from exploring the broader aspects of what it is to walk out on to a stage or to make a recording, to specialist tips from deep inside the practice room: how to trill, how to pedal, how to practise. He also writes vividly about people he's known, places he's travelled to, books he's read, paintings he's seen; and touches on more controversial subjects, such as assisted suicide and abortion. Even religion is there - the possibility of the existence of God, problems with some biblical texts and the challenge involved in being a gay Catholic.
443 pages, Hardcover
First published July 30, 2019
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498 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 29, 2021
As a pianist, classical music devotee, and writer, I appreciate Rough Ideas: Reflections on Music and More for Stephen Hough's cerebral, high-level, informed, measured commentaries on classical music, art, piano, and more. (Stephen Hough is among the most well-known classical pianists of our generation; he’s not necessarily my favorite, but he’s certainly excellent.) However, Rough Ideas is definitely not for everyone. You’ll only enjoy this book as a provocative, slow-moving, occasionally spontaneous guide to reflection, rather than a piece of proactive messaging.
Rough Ideas is split into six sections, each containing between twenty and fifty commentaries on an enormous variety of topics. In the first section, “Forum,” Hough shares some general thoughts on music, the classical music “scene,” music venues, pianos, pianists, and concerts. The second part, “Stage,” covers nervousness, concert routines, concert mishaps, concert habits, mistakes, and recording. Hough delves further into musical specifics in the section entitled “Studio,” in which he discusses practice habits, practice tips, the mechanics of playing, and gives technical commentaries.
The longest section of the work is called “People and Pieces,” Rough Ideas’ attempt to share a brief history of “classical” music. Hough covers the composers Elgar, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, Brahms, Dvorak, Schubert, York Bowen, Mompou, Bach, Liszt, Chopin, Debussy, Ravel, and discusses playing, recording, his opinions of, and the natures of, their works. After touching on his own pieces, Hough reflects on some of the most memorable and influential people he has met and their impacts on his life. This leads into the final sections, “...and More,” an enormous, thought-provoking amalgamation of the essays that didn’t make it into any of the other sections, and “...and Religion,” a collection of brief but noteworthy musings on Christianity and God.
As one can tell, this is a massive amount to cover in one book, and this quantity of material is my chief criticism. Reading Rough Ideas often feels like a slog through quicksand. There is so much of Hough’s thoughtful, inspired writing here that it’s impossible to give every nugget of wisdom he throws out its due diligence. Many essays aren’t particularly focused, and they often meander their way to their last sentences.
However, Rough Ideas is surprisingly funny (Hough has lots of amusing anecdotes to share) and really did get my cogs turning. Hough is fascinatingly intellectual and offers lots of novel perspectives on controversial topics. The essays’ subjects and in the ways in which they are covered are generally intriguing, too.
Overall, Rough Ideas is a measured, curated, deeply intellectual, if lengthy study of so much more than just music, with thoughtful perspectives, fascinating anecdotes, that plumbs the answers to the most weighty questions our species has.
Rough Ideas is split into six sections, each containing between twenty and fifty commentaries on an enormous variety of topics. In the first section, “Forum,” Hough shares some general thoughts on music, the classical music “scene,” music venues, pianos, pianists, and concerts. The second part, “Stage,” covers nervousness, concert routines, concert mishaps, concert habits, mistakes, and recording. Hough delves further into musical specifics in the section entitled “Studio,” in which he discusses practice habits, practice tips, the mechanics of playing, and gives technical commentaries.
The longest section of the work is called “People and Pieces,” Rough Ideas’ attempt to share a brief history of “classical” music. Hough covers the composers Elgar, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, Brahms, Dvorak, Schubert, York Bowen, Mompou, Bach, Liszt, Chopin, Debussy, Ravel, and discusses playing, recording, his opinions of, and the natures of, their works. After touching on his own pieces, Hough reflects on some of the most memorable and influential people he has met and their impacts on his life. This leads into the final sections, “...and More,” an enormous, thought-provoking amalgamation of the essays that didn’t make it into any of the other sections, and “...and Religion,” a collection of brief but noteworthy musings on Christianity and God.
As one can tell, this is a massive amount to cover in one book, and this quantity of material is my chief criticism. Reading Rough Ideas often feels like a slog through quicksand. There is so much of Hough’s thoughtful, inspired writing here that it’s impossible to give every nugget of wisdom he throws out its due diligence. Many essays aren’t particularly focused, and they often meander their way to their last sentences.
However, Rough Ideas is surprisingly funny (Hough has lots of amusing anecdotes to share) and really did get my cogs turning. Hough is fascinatingly intellectual and offers lots of novel perspectives on controversial topics. The essays’ subjects and in the ways in which they are covered are generally intriguing, too.
Overall, Rough Ideas is a measured, curated, deeply intellectual, if lengthy study of so much more than just music, with thoughtful perspectives, fascinating anecdotes, that plumbs the answers to the most weighty questions our species has.
November 25, 2019
A delightful book consisting of several hundred short articles on a variety of topics by pianist Stephen Hough. The man is the embodiment of the term "renaissance man" being an accomplished musician, composer, author, theologian, and heaven knows what. The Economist gave him the distinction of being one of twenty living polymaths. Topics cover his working life (the challenges of touring, performing, recording), his views on religion (he is a convert to Roman Catholicism), perspectives on politics and morality, and various other unclassifiable subjects, notably the challenges of growing up gay.
My favourite quote concerns his attitude to serious music and its fundamental difference to that termed "popular".... "Classical music has a special knack for putting certain things into perspective. To listen to or play music written up to five hundred years ago and still find its voice utterly contemporary is to experience a telescoping of human experience, a direct link to the wisdom and passion of the past. And, unlike some forms of entertainment, classical music is not escapism. We don’t leave behind our deepest human longings for the length of a concert; rather we explore, with the composer, the most profound part of our being. Music heals. It is an antibiotic, not a painkiller."
His viewpoint on the bible and homosexuality, and implicit condemnation for absolutism... "Just as we can now see clearly the inadequacy of St Paul’s teaching on women or slavery and excuse his historical limitations, so we need not blame him for his lack of understanding of the concept of same-sex love. He was looking through a window at first-century Rome and Corinth with first-century Jewish eyes from a perspective of religious and cultural separation that had lasted for centuries. It is virtually impossible that he could have seen gay couples in faithful, committed partnerships, and it is certain that he saw all kinds of orgiastic, abusive behaviour that would often have been linked to pagan rites and beliefs. What else could he have written in his situation?"
But, lastly his refusal simply to condemn others for disagreeing with him.... "I’m allergic to telling anyone what to do. I respect totally those who disagree with me but I don’t think a concert is the place to make a political point. To win souls rather than arguments is an idea that appealed to me in the years when I was considering entering the priesthood. Indeed, to lose an argument in humility, in patience, through kind hesitation, might well be the way to ‘listen through’ to a person’s soul."
Universally regarded as a nice man, his decency and humanity shines though in this very entertaining and enjoyable book.
My favourite quote concerns his attitude to serious music and its fundamental difference to that termed "popular".... "Classical music has a special knack for putting certain things into perspective. To listen to or play music written up to five hundred years ago and still find its voice utterly contemporary is to experience a telescoping of human experience, a direct link to the wisdom and passion of the past. And, unlike some forms of entertainment, classical music is not escapism. We don’t leave behind our deepest human longings for the length of a concert; rather we explore, with the composer, the most profound part of our being. Music heals. It is an antibiotic, not a painkiller."
His viewpoint on the bible and homosexuality, and implicit condemnation for absolutism... "Just as we can now see clearly the inadequacy of St Paul’s teaching on women or slavery and excuse his historical limitations, so we need not blame him for his lack of understanding of the concept of same-sex love. He was looking through a window at first-century Rome and Corinth with first-century Jewish eyes from a perspective of religious and cultural separation that had lasted for centuries. It is virtually impossible that he could have seen gay couples in faithful, committed partnerships, and it is certain that he saw all kinds of orgiastic, abusive behaviour that would often have been linked to pagan rites and beliefs. What else could he have written in his situation?"
But, lastly his refusal simply to condemn others for disagreeing with him.... "I’m allergic to telling anyone what to do. I respect totally those who disagree with me but I don’t think a concert is the place to make a political point. To win souls rather than arguments is an idea that appealed to me in the years when I was considering entering the priesthood. Indeed, to lose an argument in humility, in patience, through kind hesitation, might well be the way to ‘listen through’ to a person’s soul."
Universally regarded as a nice man, his decency and humanity shines though in this very entertaining and enjoyable book.
May 11, 2024
What an incredibly knowledgeable and wise man Stephen Hough is! He made me both think and feel so much when reading his reflections/essays. I savoured every word and just want more.
July 28, 2020
This book, by one of my favorite classical pianists, is an anthology of blog posts and other short pieces, so it has a scattershot quality that makes it impossible to sit down and read to the exclusion of anything else. That's not a bad thing in itself, but know that this book is best in small doses, as a side read. He's an interesting character with thought-provoking things to say about most of what he's written about here, so I found it all more or less worth the time. However, I rated it in the middle because I found the book overly inclusive by at least half. I ended up putting a bookmark in each of the several sections of the book and read them concurrently, so that if I got fed up with his musings on one subject or other, I could turn to his essays on pianism, which unsurprisingly comprise the most interesting part of the book. I arranged it so that I'd finish my reading on essays about Chopin and Liszt, and I'm glad I did. There is no way I'd finish this book if I had to complete it by slogging through his religious essays, which give the irritating impression of a basically secular person whose is determined to continue going to church, and therefore believes in whatever he happens to prefer and rationalizes away whatever he doesn't. Whatever makes him happy, I guess, but I kept wanting him to just pick a lane already. (Former Catholic, here.) I wouldn't exclude these entirely though; for example, his essay on the ritual of the Eucharist was actually one of the best in the entire book. On the whole this was a good book to slog around for six weeks, and it has only enhanced my enjoyment of his recordings (many if not most of which are put out by one of the best classical labels in the world, Hyperion Records). Check out his music and become a fan.
October 1, 2020
Tough book to rate. Viewed as a "collection of essays" but reads more like a series of blog entries. By far the best portions are those in which Hough addresses playing the piano, whether on stage or in the practice rooms. He even provides some tips, although his playing is on such another level that I'm not sure us earthlings can even practice like him, let alone perform. But I did appreciate his insight from the bench.
The rest of the wide-ranging essays are more hit-and-miss. Perhaps the highlight here was a simple yet profound piece pointing out the absurdity of assisted suicide and the actually quite trite arguments made in its favor. The religious essays were less good. He speaks of faith yet puts little content into that room. He ridicules the raising of Lazarus, for instance, sure that it must be an invention. He claims Christ but seems to see him as "just one path among many" (my summary not his). And his pooh-poohing of the biblical view of sex and marriage leaves much to be desired, to say the least.
I'm glad I read this book and will enjoy Hough's music even more. I'd let him tech me piano; perhaps not theology.
The rest of the wide-ranging essays are more hit-and-miss. Perhaps the highlight here was a simple yet profound piece pointing out the absurdity of assisted suicide and the actually quite trite arguments made in its favor. The religious essays were less good. He speaks of faith yet puts little content into that room. He ridicules the raising of Lazarus, for instance, sure that it must be an invention. He claims Christ but seems to see him as "just one path among many" (my summary not his). And his pooh-poohing of the biblical view of sex and marriage leaves much to be desired, to say the least.
I'm glad I read this book and will enjoy Hough's music even more. I'd let him tech me piano; perhaps not theology.
March 4, 2020
I used to be a big fan of Stephen Hough's blog and I had high hopes for this book. I think it's simply republications of his blog posts -- nice enough writing, but I was hoping for him to develop ideas more deeply in book form than he did on his blog.
July 6, 2020
As a gay Anglo-Catholic musician, there was so much in this book that a could relate to. Most essays are no longer than a few pages, but they're packed with wonderful insight into various topics. Well worth the read.
March 29, 2020
The great thing about this book is that it's written in short little essays (originally blog posts) and so it's very easy to pick up and put down. And while many of these musings provide memorable insights, or direct you to explore more (the piano music of Federico Mompou, for example) I guess the downside is that there's not much to hold on to.
On a blog that you visit daily or weekly, you have at least 24 hours to sit with one of these little articles, and maybe that's the best way to read the book — over the course of months or a year.
I personally would have preferred the author to have knit them together into deeper, more complete, longer-form essays. But that's not exactly judging the book on its own merits, so take it for what you will.
My other star-docking complaint about the book is this: the early sections, where the author focusses on music and his relationship to it, and what the life of a musician is like, are very interesting. And those are the subjects I imagine most people will be picking up the book to learn about.
In the later sections, he turns to subjects of religion, sexuality, morality, the Catholic church, visual art, friends he's known, etc. And those are all legitimate subjects for him to have opinions on, but again, that's moreso blog-fodder than what can sustainably be contained in this kind of a book. I think an editor should have focussed the subject matter of this volume. If an editor did that very thing, and the author spurned that advice, then the result is, I'm afraid, a tad self-indulgent.
But again, this is mostly an insightful book that's easy to read, engrossing and interesting, but a major and important contemporary musician.
On a blog that you visit daily or weekly, you have at least 24 hours to sit with one of these little articles, and maybe that's the best way to read the book — over the course of months or a year.
I personally would have preferred the author to have knit them together into deeper, more complete, longer-form essays. But that's not exactly judging the book on its own merits, so take it for what you will.
My other star-docking complaint about the book is this: the early sections, where the author focusses on music and his relationship to it, and what the life of a musician is like, are very interesting. And those are the subjects I imagine most people will be picking up the book to learn about.
In the later sections, he turns to subjects of religion, sexuality, morality, the Catholic church, visual art, friends he's known, etc. And those are all legitimate subjects for him to have opinions on, but again, that's moreso blog-fodder than what can sustainably be contained in this kind of a book. I think an editor should have focussed the subject matter of this volume. If an editor did that very thing, and the author spurned that advice, then the result is, I'm afraid, a tad self-indulgent.
But again, this is mostly an insightful book that's easy to read, engrossing and interesting, but a major and important contemporary musician.
March 13, 2020
I really enjoyed this book, especially in the areas that were about music, musicians and instruments. If it is surprising that I say that, given that Stephen Hough is after all a concert pianist, readers should be prepared for the fact that Rough Ideas is more of a compilation of loosely grouped writings than something to read through like a novel; and that, especially though by no means exclusively at the end, it explores deeply into other area, notably Catholicism and sexuality. Whether and how they related to his life of music, and are therefore relevant to the book, is for other readers to determine. I suspect that he would probably say they are him and they are therefore relevant. Mr Hough is clearly as much of a thinker away from the piano as when seated at one, and he has a nice light writing style and paints some lovely pictures with words. I just felt, as I neared the end, that he may just have strayed a little from what I wanted to read about, which, after all, is my problem, not his!
January 9, 2022
Stephen Hough is a great artist, in the truest sense of the word.
This book is a collection of short articles, mostly from blog entries, on various and interesting subjects.
One can find true gems among them, namely the ones on Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov, whose complete piano concertos’ recordings by the pianist/author now figure in my collection.
Hough also aims, one could say, to create in the reader the appreciation for some wonderful, albeit neglected, pieces.
His recommendations and analysis led to further discovery and to new horizons, which, for me, is more than enough a compliment.
Chopin also shines bright in the pages of this book.
The style is fluid, unpretentious and pleasant, containing great depth, with the occasional ability to strike a sentimental cord.
Very happy to have read it.
This book is a collection of short articles, mostly from blog entries, on various and interesting subjects.
One can find true gems among them, namely the ones on Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov, whose complete piano concertos’ recordings by the pianist/author now figure in my collection.
Hough also aims, one could say, to create in the reader the appreciation for some wonderful, albeit neglected, pieces.
His recommendations and analysis led to further discovery and to new horizons, which, for me, is more than enough a compliment.
Chopin also shines bright in the pages of this book.
The style is fluid, unpretentious and pleasant, containing great depth, with the occasional ability to strike a sentimental cord.
Very happy to have read it.
January 31, 2020
I received this book for Christmas and was interested in reading about a fantastic pianist I have had the pleasure of hearing live.
I had no idea this book was compiled of articles Hough had written for various publications as well as his own general musings. It was a very interesting read. I particularly enjoyed the first few sections where he talks about music and will definitely try and use some of the practice tips! There were certain sections I found more difficult, mainly because I was less interested in the subject.
I took ages to read this book because of workload and the classic January slump but if you are interested in classical music or are a fan of Stephen Hough then I recommend this book.
I had no idea this book was compiled of articles Hough had written for various publications as well as his own general musings. It was a very interesting read. I particularly enjoyed the first few sections where he talks about music and will definitely try and use some of the practice tips! There were certain sections I found more difficult, mainly because I was less interested in the subject.
I took ages to read this book because of workload and the classic January slump but if you are interested in classical music or are a fan of Stephen Hough then I recommend this book.
April 4, 2024
Acclaimed as a concert pianist, Stephen Hough is also a skilled writer, painter, and composer. This book is a wide-ranging collection of his writings on piano technique, practicing (both music and religion), education, pleasure, and more.
This book awakened a tremendous longing in me to return to the piano. I taught music full-time for many years and had a modest career as a concert artist and lecturer. Circumstances changed, however, and I now spend my days doing something non-musical to make my living. While my work is satisfying, my heart and soul belongs to music. Perhaps I can begin to find a way to carve out time for all my instruments (piano, violin, and cello).
This book awakened a tremendous longing in me to return to the piano. I taught music full-time for many years and had a modest career as a concert artist and lecturer. Circumstances changed, however, and I now spend my days doing something non-musical to make my living. While my work is satisfying, my heart and soul belongs to music. Perhaps I can begin to find a way to carve out time for all my instruments (piano, violin, and cello).
April 4, 2023
Boy do pianists love writing books, I feel like I see a new one every time I peruse the music section. This one is basically just a collection of blog posts so it was nice to read on my phone during downtime. The sections on the day to day life of a concert pianist — recording, traveling, having to learn or re-learn pieces on short notice — and the actual discussion of the piano as an art form were really insightful and fascinating. They were surrounded by a bunch of cruft on Hough’s life, his thoughts on religion, society, etc that didn’t do much for me.
December 3, 2020
Musician/pianist Stephen Hough has a life-time of musings about music, performing, musical scores, musicians, the minute details of learning to play and practice, how does one live as an professional pianist, so much stuff that I’d not thought about as an amateur on-again/off-again pianist. Very enlightening, easy to read, a compendium to use as a reference source.
April 24, 2020
This collection has certainly piqued my interest in Hough. His ruminations are probably most interesting to pianists and musicians, but there is enough variety here to appeal to casual classical music lovers.
August 17, 2020
I enjoyed leafing through his reflections on a variety of topics. I especially remember the one on Christmas carols-- bec he captures the reason I have always loved hearing them and singing them.
February 17, 2021
Fairly easy reading given the format (short blog-like entries). No individual entry lasted very long so there was no real risk of boredom. A lot of interesting points about music but you'd want to have a decent exposure to the piano literature to appreciate it.
October 8, 2021
Full of interesting insights, the book gets more and more interesting as you continue reading. For a comparative (if not better) book on piano playing and classical music, I recommend Susan Tomes "Speaking the Piano".
February 12, 2023
Music/piano/art musings are great if not too short, but a faulty catechesis and understanding of many Church teachings makes me wonder how much the ‘Catholic’ label is an old iron-on patch dangling on simply for purposes of inclusivity and ‘conservative’ appeal…
August 11, 2025
I agree with like 98% of what he has to say, which makes that last 2% quite painful. But I'm on board with almost all of it: how to practice, spontaneity in performance, philosophy, John Ruskin quotes, the relationship yet non-identity of music with religion, its all there.
October 21, 2025
Enjoyed the observations and insights into specific pieces and composers, and to a somewhat lesser extent the stories of life as a professional pianist. The format (compilation of 100+ extremely short posts) is not my favourite.
November 4, 2019
Short thoughts on everything from stage fright to the existence of a deity from this consummate writer-musician - his phrasing is as exquisite in words as in music.
August 9, 2020
Full of great advice and thoughts on everything. Mainly for pianists, but a great window on the life of one of our top British pianists (from Heswall originally).
Read
May 12, 2022It was a very enjoyable and varied read.
March 24, 2023
A fascinating book with lots of ideas and stories plus a real insight into the life of a concert pianist. It made me want to listen to many more piano concertos
April 29, 2025
The ideas are rough indeed. Most are not given the length to develop. But delightful nonetheless as bed time reading. Not too heavy or intellectually demanding.
May 11, 2025
got like 220 pages in and then realized i didnt want to finish it
its okay
its okay
July 25, 2025
Brilliant. Wide ranging topics about the piano, music and life in general. Should reread at some point.
Read
December 24, 2025DNF 50%
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December 25, 2020Here’s my interview of Stephen Hough in Music & Literature https://www.musicandliterature.org/fe...
Shout out to this book here https://themillions.com/2020/12/a-yea...
Shout out to this book here https://themillions.com/2020/12/a-yea...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews