Enough: Scenes from Childhood

by Stephen Hough

'Stephen Hough's memoir had me gripped from the beginning [ .] riveting and revelatory. Most memoirs give me far more than I want to know - this is the rare sort that left me urgently demanding a second volume, a third, a fourth. I loved it.'
Philip Pullman

Stephen Hough is indisputably one of the world's leading pianists, winning global acclaim and numerous awards.

This memoir recounts his unconventional coming-of-age story, from his beginnings in an unmusical home in Cheshireto the main stage of Carnegie Hall in New York aged 21. We read of his early love-affair with the piano which curdled, after a teenage nervous breakdown, into failure at school and six-hours a day watching television, engulfed in dreams, seesawing between sexual and religious obsessions.We meet his supportive, if eccentric parents - his artistically frustrated father, his housework-hating mother. We read of the teachers who encouraged and inspired, and others who hit him on the head screaming, "you'll do nothing with your life". Then finding his way back to the piano, having abandoned plans for an alternative life as a Catholic priest, he flourished at the Royal Northern College of Music and the Juilliard School, beginning his career as an international soloist as this book ends.

Genres: Biography, Autobiography, Memoir, Music

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2023

About the author

Stephen Hough is a British-born classical pianist, composer and writer. He became the first classical music performer to be awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in 2001, joining prominent writers and scientists who have made significant contributions in their fields. In 2009 he was named by The Economist and Intelligent Life magazines as one of 20 living polymaths. In 2010 he was named Instrumentalist of the Year at the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards. He is a Governor of the Royal Ballet Companies (The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Royal Ballet School). He is a patron of the charity The Nightingale Project, which takes music and art into hospitals and of Music in Prisons (Irene Taylor Trust). He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to music. He was made an Honorary Bencher of the Middle Temple in 2017.

Hough has appeared as a soloist with major orchestras around the world and as a recitalist has appeared on the major stages of the world including Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium, Chicago's Symphony Hall, London's Royal Festival Hall and the main stage of the Concertgebouw.

He is a visiting professor of piano at the Royal Academy of Music in London and the International Chair of Piano Studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. He is also on the faculty of the Juilliard School in New York.

Hough joined the Roman Catholic Church when he was 19. Twice in his life he considered becoming a priest, in particular joining the Franciscan Order.

He has written about his homosexuality and its relationship with both his music-making and his religion. For some 15 years, following his Catholic vocation, he lived a life of celibacy. In 2007 he published The Bible as Prayer: a handbook for lectio divina. 'Nosing Around', his little book on perfume, was published in 2014. He had a solo exhibition of his paintings at the Broadbent Gallery in London in October 2012.

Reviews

[Graham Power · Rating 4 out of 5]

This childhood memoir, by the pianist and composer Stephen Hough, is told as a series of vignettes: jigsaw pieces of the past which fit together to form a fascinating picture. His memories are intimate ones: the complex mysteries of family life, and his difficult years as a pupil at a music school in the 1970s, which brought him close to a breakdown. He writes about his very early realisation that he was gay (‘I knew I was gay before I knew what it was’) and his gradual acceptance of himself. He also, in his fragmentary way, paints a vivid portrait of the England of the period: the bad food, embarrassing fashions, and even glam rock - the young maestro’s bedroom was adorned with posters of his heroes David Bowie and Marc Bolan.

As might be expected, he writes with particular insight about music. His description of hearing Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius for the first time, at a low point in his teenage years when he had lost his passion for the piano and spent most of his time slumped in front of the TV, is a moving example of the regenerative and life-changing power of music. It restored his faith in his vocation and ignited another one; not long afterwards he became a Catholic and seriously contemplated entering the priesthood.

Music flows through this memoir - a dance to the music of time, indeed - while always remaining only a part of it. The prose itself resonates with a disciplined musicality. You don’t have to be a classical music fan to enjoy Hough’s candid, funny and touching coming-of-age story. Enough is astonishingly self-revealing while never saying too much; just enough.

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as Jeremy Denk's Every Good Boy Does Fine. Seemed very light and flippant and superficial. He is a similar age to me so some of the descriptions of his childhood chimed with mine, but on the whole unsatisfying.

[Dominic H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen Hough is a genuine polymath. Virtuoso pianist, original composer and author. His previous book of short essays offered lots to think about mostly on musical subjects and this autobiography covering his life up to the end of his study at the Juillard is engaging, authentic, humorous and unflinching. I like the way it’s structured in short episodic chapters and the fact that the book isn’t just about music. For example, Hough’s reminiscences of growing up in the 1970s uncanninly capture the mood and detail of the time. They will I’m sure fire all sorts of memories for those (like me) that did. Really interesting to hear also what a major impression 'The Dream of Gerontius' made on Hough. It is an uncanny work - and so striking to read that it and Newman more generally were a factor in Hough’s conversion to Catholicism. There’s much more here - Hough’s coming to terms with his sexuality, his unusual and difficult education including his account of being a secondary school pupil at Chetham’s music school which has become notorious for the abuse that took place there in the 1970s and 80s, his views on his teachers and of course learning to live with his own immense talent. Very readable.

[Felicity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this for my partner's birthday and read it after he had enjoyed it.

Stephen Hough is one of my favourite classical pianists and I enjoyed one of his other books "Rough Ideas" which is a compilation of articles. Some biographical and some about music and other subjects. This book is certainly more of a memoir and starts from Stephen's childhood and continues until his career suddenly takes off in his 20s.

I enjoyed this and some of the anecdotes had me and my partner roaring with laughter. Other parts were darker. Especially Hough's time at Chethams and how his mental health suffered in his teens. I found it fascinating how he moved to America and what the culture of studying music was like in the 1980s. It is certainly different now and not all for the better. It is quite detailed in places and gives people an idea of what studying an instrument is like. I wanted to find out more. Maybe there will be a sequel?

An excellent memoir about one of the best pianists this country has produced. Worth reading even if you have never heard of him.

[Alan Bevan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book. It is a wonderfully honest account of Stephen Hough's childhood and early years. It is presented as snippets of memory rather than perhaps a more traditional, linear autobiograph. I think that approach works really well as that is how we remember our past. The book is both funny and poignant. Born exactly 10 years after me. close to where I was born, I was able to identify with Stephen. His love of the piano shines through, although I wish he spent more time explaining his attraction to it and his motivations to practice so rigorously. It was also interesting to read of his growing awareness of his homosexuality and the way in which that shaped his self view and interactions with the world. Among other things, the book has inspired me to persist with my adult learner piano ambitions.

[Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a talent this man is; pianist, writer, poet, conductor and composer. Yet he comes across as a very warm and sensitive person with no big ego. I was interested in his religious interests too. There were a few isoteric passages but I would definitely like to read more about/by him.

[Liz Crew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Realised I've been mispronouncing Stephen's surname for years! Would love it if there were a second volume....

[Graham Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting read. Recommended!

[Christopher Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an enjoyable read, absolutely loved turning every page ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Steven Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

moving and funny

[William Dury · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whole lotta skill set on this guy. Studying at Juilliard the most interesting part, his New York City is very well done . I’m starting to get the feeling that in the arts, jealous teachers undermining talented students is fairly common. Geez.

[Tony Fitzpatrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Autobiographical book by pianist/polymath Stephen Hough, with short chapters each describing some aspect of his childhood and upbringing from early years through to the start of his career in his early 20s after attending the RNCM and then the Julliard School in New York. Brutally honest about his (and his parents!) failings, it is amazing that his talent managed to be nurtured and fulfilled in the way that it has, and for that I think that his parents were possibly rather more understanding and admirable than he occasionally suggests in this book. The heroes are (as he describes) the various music teachers who recognised and developed his abilities. For me the biggest revelation was just how awful the specialist music school Chethams in Manchester was in the 1970s, with abuse, bullying, poor buildings, and frequently inadequate teaching. A lot of the book concerns very personal stuff around relationships, people's morals, and the sort of day to day arguments and differences that occur in all families. I am not sure who is served by describing a lot of this in such detail, although it is of course very well written. I found some of it a little uncomfortable to be honest.

[Andy Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating and very honest book about Stephen's early years and his development as a concert pianist up to the point when he launches on his professional career. Anyone interested in people and music will enjoy this book. I am privileged to know Stephen and to have known him when he was growing up, he and his parents have been a blessing to me in life.