Isata Kanneh-Mason – Childhood Tales (2023) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Isata Kanneh-Mason evokes the magic of childhood in this charming collection – nostalgic music written for grown-ups, about childhood.

One sometimes feels trepidation about the prodigious Kanneh-Mason siblings, who must be under tremendous pressure, but they’ve shown an admirable ability to pick projects that they connect with and are comfortable with. Childhood Tales, from pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, is a case in point. Most of the music is standard for this kind of program; Mozart’s 12 Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman,” K. 265, Schumann’s Kinderszenen, Op. 15, and Debussy’s Children’s Corner have hundreds of recordings in the catalog. However, Kanneh-Mason inserts a considerably less well-known piece into the sequence: Ernst von Dohnányi’s Variations on a Nursery Song, Op. 25. The theme of this set is the same as that of Mozart’s, a tune better known in English as “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” The Dohnányi piece is a real gem, full of wit and beginning with an imposing introduction whose function becomes clear only at the end of the work. Kanneh-Mason’s reading catches the humor and really is worth the price of admission all by itself. Her readings of the standards are quite strong as well; she doesn’t necessarily break new ground, but her Schumann scenes of childhood are often engrossing. Sample her deliberate approach in the well-trodden Träumerei for an idea. With Decca contributing fine sound from the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, this release marks a new step in the upward trajectory for Isata Kanneh-Mason. It is unsurprising that this release made classical best-seller charts in the spring of 2023. – James Manheim

Tracklist:
1-01. Isata Kanneh-Mason – 12 Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je maman”, K. 265: Theme (00:34)
1-02. Isata Kanneh-Mason – 12 Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je maman”, K. 265: Var. 1 (00:28)
1-03. Isata Kanneh-Mason – 12 Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je maman”, K. 265: Var. 2 (00:26)
1-04. Isata Kanneh-Mason – 12 Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je maman”, K. 265: Var. 3 (00:27)
1-05. Isata Kanneh-Mason – 12 Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je maman”, K. 265: Var. 4 (00:27)
1-06. Isata Kanneh-Mason – 12 Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je maman”, K. 265: Var. 5 (00:28)
1-07. Isata Kanneh-Mason – 12 Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je maman”, K. 265: Var. 6 (00:24)
1-08. Isata Kanneh-Mason – 12 Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je maman”, K. 265: Var. 7 (00:28)
1-09. Isata Kanneh-Mason – 12 Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je maman”, K. 265: Var. 8 (00:37)
1-10. Isata Kanneh-Mason – 12 Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je maman”, K. 265: Var. 9 (00:27)
1-11. Isata Kanneh-Mason – 12 Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je maman”, K. 265: Var. 10 (00:27)
1-12. Isata Kanneh-Mason – 12 Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je maman”, K. 265: Var. 11. Adagio (02:19)
1-13. Isata Kanneh-Mason – 12 Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je maman”, K. 265: Var. 12. Allegro (01:02)
1-14. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Variations on a Nursery Song, Op. 25: Introduction. Maestoso (03:33)
1-15. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Variations on a Nursery Song, Op. 25: Theme. Allegro (00:59)
1-16. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Variations on a Nursery Song, Op. 25: Var. 1. Poco più mosso (00:38)
1-17. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Variations on a Nursery Song, Op. 25: Var. 2. Risoluto (00:32)
1-18. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Variations on a Nursery Song, Op. 25: Var. 3. L’istesso tempo (01:25)
1-19. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Variations on a Nursery Song, Op. 25: Var. 4. Molto meno mosso (Allegretto moderato) (01:06)
1-20. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Variations on a Nursery Song, Op. 25: Var. 5. Più mosso (00:58)
1-21. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Variations on a Nursery Song, Op. 25: Var. 6. Ancora più mosso (Allegro) (00:39)
1-22. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Variations on a Nursery Song, Op. 25: Var. 7. Walzer (Tempo giusto) (02:11)
1-23. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Variations on a Nursery Song, Op. 25: Var. 8. Alla marcia (Allegro moderato) (01:30)
1-24. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Variations on a Nursery Song, Op. 25: Var. 9. Presto – Andante rubato (01:52)
1-25. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Variations on a Nursery Song, Op. 25: Var. 10. Passacaglia (Adagio non troppo) (04:21)
1-26. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Variations on a Nursery Song, Op. 25: Var. 11. Choral (Maestoso) (01:38)
1-27. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Variations on a Nursery Song, Op. 25: Finale fugato. Allegro vivace (03:29)
1-28. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Children’s Corner, CD 119: I. Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum (02:18)
1-29. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Children’s Corner, CD 119: II. Jimbo’s Lullaby (03:20)
1-30. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Children’s Corner, CD 119: III. Serenade for the Doll (02:40)
1-31. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Children’s Corner, CD 119: IV. The Snow Is Dancing (02:38)
1-32. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Children’s Corner, CD 119: V. The Little Shepherd (02:34)
1-33. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Children’s Corner, CD 119: VI. Cakewalk (03:02)
1-34. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 1, Von fremden Ländern und Menschen (01:41)
1-35. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 2, Kuriose Geschichte (01:03)
1-36. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 3, Hasche-Mann (00:30)
1-37. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 4, Bittendes Kind (00:52)
1-38. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 5, Glückes genug (00:38)
1-39. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 6, Wichtige Begebenheit (00:47)
1-40. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 7, Träumerei (02:35)
1-41. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 8, Am Kamin (00:52)
1-42. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 9, Ritter vom Steckenpferd (00:39)
1-43. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 10, Fast zu ernst (01:45)
1-44. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 11, Fürchtenmachen (01:53)
1-45. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 12, Kind im Einschlummern (01:44)
1-46. Isata Kanneh-Mason – Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 13, Der Dichter spricht (02:35)