Rough Ideas by Stephen Hough – Picador

September 15, 2025

I enjoyed reading his essays. Stephen Hough is one of the leading pianists, performing about 80 concerts a year in prestigious venues and collaborating with amazing musicians. And he writes, composes and paints! He writes mostly around music in this book from the viewpoint of a musician. Of course we have to remember his extraordinary talent so when he recommends things for young pianists to follow, it may not be easy. I don’t agree with everything he writes, but I still enjoyed reading about different composers. It is fun! His wit is wonderful, as is his honesty. If you are a music enthusiast as a listener or player, it will be enjoyable to have this book at your bedside table and read one or two essays a night. You can skip around the book to find your favorite essay!