HOUSE OF MUSIC

Books and magazines: the Kanneh-Mason family

to complement a new album

Norman Warwick suggests HOUSE OF MUSIC

We related news yesterday of a new album by the gifted cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, a member of a family of seven young classical musicians,  rightly much feted by a couple of BBC documentary specials over the last two or three years.

We take this opportunity to remind any of you who remain unaware of the family´s story that you can catch up with all that has happened to them through a couple of books that are still in the bookshops and outlets like Amazon and Kindle and all good bookstores.

One of the books is by the Mother of the Kanneh-Mason musicians. Kadiatu was a smiling, confident and a very proud mum, as shown  in those tv documentaries, her voice rings truly in this excellent biography.

Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason is a former lecturer at Birmingham University and the mother of seven children. The third eldest, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, was BBC Young Musician 2016 and performed at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The siblings have performed at the 2018 BAFTA ceremony, Britain’s Got Talent, The Royal Variety Performance and at major concert halls around the world. 

Seven brothers and sisters, all of them classically trained musicians, lived together in this eponymous House Of Music. One was Young Musician of the Year and performed for the royal family. The eldest has released her first album, showcasing the works of Clara Schumann. These siblings don’t come from the rarefied environment of elite music schools, but from a state comprehensive in Nottingham.  It is hard to imagine how they did it.

Their mother opens up about what it takes to raise a musical family in a Britain divided by class and race. What comes out is a beautiful and heartrending memoir of the power of determination, camaraderie and a lot of hard work. The Kanneh-Masons are a remarkable family. But what truly sparkles in this eloquent memoir is the joyous affirmation that children are a gift and we must do all we can to nurture them.

House Of Music was the winner of the indie book award 2022 for non-fiction as well as the winner of the Royal Philharmonic Society Storytelling Award 2021.

The critics were pretty unanimous in their praise of this lovely story, and its teller, with these below being typical examples.

‘I was entranced… Beautifully written and hugely enjoyable.’

Bernardine Evaristo, author of Girl, Woman, Other

‘Riveting, taking in prejudice as well as sacrifice. There are 4.30am starts, lost instruments, fractured wrists, all captured with vivid flourishes. A paean to camaraderie.’ Observer

‘An amazing, compelling, moving, unforgettable story…’ Lady Antonia Fraser

‘[Kadiatu’s] frank memoir reveals the eye-watering level of practical, emotional, intellectual and financial commitment required to raise seven outstanding classical musicians. Her beautiful, wise writing is its own music.’ Daily Mail

Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason’s story offers a ray of sunshine. Her account of the daily struggle to manage the musical education of her family’s seven talented children reaches a triumphant conclusion when second son, cellist Sheku, achieves worldwide fame in 2018, playing at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Financial Times,

‘The story runs deeper… Kadiatu makes no secret of the sacrifices she’s had to make, whether physical (pregnancy never agreed with her), career (she gave up her job as an English lecturer 21 years ago), or financial.’

Daily Express

‘The unique story of a unique family. Unique? Well I can’t think of any other family with seven children, all of whom are prodigiously talented musicians. Kadiatu gives a glorious account of how she and husband Stuart came to realise that from the earliest age their children communicated through music. She gives an honest account of the burdens as well as the joys, as she and Stuart knew they had a duty to fulfil, which imposed enormous financial strain on them. Now they can relish their children’s achievements — including Sheku’s performance at a royal wedding — and know all the sacrifice was worth it. Kadiatu combines this with a searing account of growing up as a mixed-race child in the Britain of the 70s. A deeply intimate and honest read on so many levels.’

John Suchet

‘A memoir that both candidly portrays and fiercely protects [Kanneh-Mason’s] brood… The fortitude and determination of the parents leap from every page.’

Guardian

‘I was entranced by the inspirational memoir about an exceptional family of very young musicians who have already achieved phenomenal success… Beautifully written and hugely enjoyable, this book shows us what it takes to nurture children to fulfil their potential and offer their unique gifts to the world.’

Bernardine Evaristo

‘The Kanneh-Masons are a unique family and the family’s matriarch, Kadiatu, has written a suitably unique and fascinating account of how day-to-day life works in an extraordinary household.’

Julian Lloyd Webber

‘Having just spent time working with my friend Sheku at Abbey Road it’s wonderful to read about him and his terrific family.  All the DNA that makes him one of the most important classical musicians – actually make that “all around” musicians – of his generation is captured so well in this loving book.’

Nile Rodgers

‘This book is about hard work, determination and a triumph against the odds. It is truly inspirational!’

Paul Smith

‘Eloquent and inspirational’

Surrey Life

‘An engaging and informative account of hard work and dedication, given context by [Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason’s] experiences of growing up with a Sierra Leonean father and a Welsh mother in 1970s–1980s Britain.’

Herald 

These days it is rare to read issues of the classical music magazine media that do not include features or interviews with one, two, three, four, five, six or even all seven of these musical maestros. In fact, the latest (June/July 2024) edition of Pianist, the glossy magazine, features a very lengthy, informative and inspirational interview with Janeba Kanneh-Mason. She speaks of how she warms up for recitals and rehearsals. Janeba was one of  the stars, (although all seven of these young musicians seem to have endearing personalities). Janeba´s joy of music, however, probably revealed  the key to their success.  That key is the unbridled love they all have for their chosen instruments and the House Of Music.