Move Records Australian classical & art music, est. 1968

Enfantines I

Katherine Day’s first solo album gathers piano works by Joachim, Krenek, Granados and Mozart chosen for young players. Her finely sculpted readings treat often-overlooked teaching repertoire with the care usually reserved for the concert canon.

Katherine Day piano
Otto Joachim composer
Ernst Krenek composer
Enrique Granados composer
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composer

In this first solo album, Katherine explores lesser-known works by Otto Joachim, Ernst Krenek, Mozart and Granados. Drawn from her university lecturing and piano teaching, the recordings offer carefully shaped interpretations of repertoire that is too often hurried past. A few of the Mozart and Granados pieces appear in intermediate exam syllabuses at home and abroad, while the Krenek and Joachim sets are frequently used to introduce twelve-tone technique to upper secondary and early tertiary students.

Every piece of music has a story to share, and performers owe each work their full attention. Modelling remains one of the strongest ways to teach. The album is meant to encourage piano teachers, their students and other pianists to give these pieces the performances they deserve.

Katherine Day can also be heard on other Move albums with soprano Shu-Cheen Yu and low flautist Peter Sheridan, and on recordings for ABC Classic FM and 3MBS FM.

This album of piano music was born out of the challenges I faced in my teaching practice. While teaching exam pieces, I found that students lacked access to truly great recordings of certain works. Performers often seemed to view these pieces as “lesser” works and therefore gave them less attention. However, I believe that every piece of music deserves to be played with passion and artistry. This album aims to provide beautiful recordings of these often-overlooked works, giving them a greater chance of being performed and appreciated around the world.

Similarly, when teaching serial composition to high school students, I turned to the miniatures of Otto Joachim and Ernst Krenek as exemplary works. Yet, I found myself dissatisfied with any available recordings, often resorting to demonstrating the pieces myself during lectures. This led me to explore complete works and record this collection of music.

In this album, I have strived to capture the essence of each piece and tell its unique story. I have given my all to tone colour, pedalling, phrasing, and voicing, treating each piece as if it were the greatest work by the greatest composer. I wanted to avoid the “just get through it” attitude so prevalent in many recordings and the harsh, brutalist sound often applied to 20th-century music.

Every piece of music has a story to share, and I believe it is our duty as performers to give our all to every piece we play. Modelling is the most effective way to educate our students. With this album, I hope to inspire piano teachers, their students, and other pianists to create exceptional recordings of works that deserve more recognition.

— Katherine Day

Reviews

Poulenc’s ‘Nocturne No.8’ was performed by Day with incredible sensitivity and control. ... Day effortlessly conjured a kaleidoscope of magical sounds at the piano ...

— Dante Costa, City News

Artist

Photograph of Katherine Day by photographer Blush Photography

Katherine Day

One of the most versatile pianists of her generation, pianist Katherine Day is in demand as a soloist, orchestral pianist, chamber musician, arranger, repetiteur, and art song collaborator.

Tracks

    Twelve-tone pieces for children Otto Joachim

  1. Plastic Soldier :26
  2. March 1:22
  3. Timmy, the Dog 1:21
  4. Gossip 1:09
  5. King Neptune :24
  6. I am Tired :39
  7. Bless you :22
  8. Full Moon :40
  9. Snowy Morning :25
  10. Catch :22
  11. Caught (or almost) :24
  12. Mirror Canon :28

    13. Twelve Short Piano Pieces, Op. 83 Ernst Krenek

  13. Dancing Toys 1:03
  14. Peaceful Mood 1:39
  15. Walking on a Stormy Day :53
  16. The Moon Rises 2:29
  17. Little Chessmen :54
  18. A Boat, Slowly Sailing 2:27
  19. Streamliner 1:01
  20. Glass Figures 1:17
  21. The Sailing Boat, Reflected in the Pond 2:17
  22. On the High Mountains 1:24
  23. Bells in the Fog 2:35
  24. Indian-Summer Day 1:35

    25. Escenas Poéticas, Book 1 Enrique Granados

  25. Berceuse 3:53
  26. Eva y Walter 2:29
  27. Danza de la Rosa 1:35

    28. Escenas Poéticas, Book 2 Enrique Granados

  28. Recuerdo de países lejanos 2:15
  29. El Ángel de los claustros 4:35
  30. Canción de Margarita 1:47
  31. Sueños del poeta 4:06

    32. Wiener Sonatina No. 2 in A major Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

  32. i. Allegro 3:21
  33. ii. Allegretto (Minuet and Trio) 3:14
  34. iii. Adagio 2:46
  35. iv. Allegro 4:08

Performers

Composers

Photograph of Enrique Granados

Enrique Granados

Enrique Granados was born in Lérida in 1867. He studied the piano and composition in Barcelona and then in Paris, returning to Barcelona in 1889, and won distinction as a pianist and popularity in Spain with his zarzuelas and piano music.

Photograph of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He wrote over 600 works, many of them pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic and choral music, and remains among the most enduringly popular of classical composers.

No photograph: Otto Joachim

Otto Joachim

No photograph: Ernst Krenek

Ernst Krenek

Contributors

No photograph: Luke Shiell

Front cover illustration

Luke Shiell

Where to listen

Enfantines I is available for streaming through Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.

Enfantines I is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.

Product details

Catalogue number
MCD 655
List price
$25.00 AUD
Total playing time
61 minutes 45 seconds
Recording Engineer
Martin Wright
Vaughan McAlley
Editing Engineer
Martin Wright
Vaughan McAlley
Mastering Engineer
Martin Wright
Vaughan McAlley
Credit
Luke Shiell
Release date
Musical work
copyright
© 2024 Katherine Day
Sound recording
copyright
℗ 2024 Move Records
Category
Classical
Genres
Children's, Romantic & Impressionist, Modernist Classical
Barcode
EAN 9314574065527

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