Isata Kanneh-Mason: Tiny Desk Concert
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- Tom Huizenga | January 7, 2025
When it comes to musical dynasties, the Bach family is tough to beat, although today’s Kanneh-Mason clan is formidable. The Bachs included some 75 active musicians over a 200-year span, including superstar Johann Sebastian. The Kanneh-Mason household, from England, is just getting started, but boasts seven siblings, each classically trained, with a few having launched major careers, including the eldest, Isata, who brings three of her favorite pieces to our trusty Tiny Desk upright piano.
In her early years, Kanneh-Mason, like many budding pianists, practiced the easier works by Chopin. And, like visiting an old friend, she keeps returning to the so-called poet of the piano, but in this performance she plays the difficult and rambunctious finale to Chopin’s Third Piano Sonata. With cascades of chords, rippling arpeggios and romantic sweep, just getting to all of the notes is a major feat.
As a second course, Kanneh-Mason offers contrasting music by Franz Liszt, the ne plus ultra of Romantic era piano virtuosos, whose serene side gets the spotlight in the Consolation No. 3 - dressed in diaphanous curlicues and lacy ornamentation.
Kanneh-Mason closes with an arrangement of “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, a Black British composer who died young in 1912. Coleridge-Taylor holds a special place in the heart of Kanneh-Mason and her family because his father hailed from Sierra Leone, the birthplace of Kanneh-Mason’s mother.
“Growing up, I never really saw any Black composers within the classical music field,” Kanneh-Mason explains. Now, with her career rising, she’s extending their legacy.
SET LIST
Frédéric Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor - IV. Finale
Franz Liszt: Consolation No. 3 in D-flat major
Traditional (arr. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor): “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child”
MUSICIANS
Isata Kanneh-Mason: piano
TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Tom Huizenga
Director/Editor: Kara Frame
Audio Technical Director: Josephine Nyounai
Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Kara Frame, Joshua Bryant, Wendy Li
Audio Engineer: Neil Tevault
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Estefania Mitre
Tiny Desk Team: Maia Stern, Hazel Cills, Josh Newell
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
#tinydesk #nprmusic #isatakannehmason
Thanks for having me Tiny Desk! This was so much fun😊
❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks for your wonderful playing
You are amazing!!! I enjoyed your performance.
Beautiful 🤩 music 🎼 you played on the piano.
Definitely up there with some of the greats 👏🏼💪🏼😊🙏🏻
Very talented 👏🏿 👌🏿 👍🏿 🙌🏿 ❤️ 😀
So proud to see her on tiny desk. As a Black classical pianist, she has been my inspiration.
Mine also!
Please give the Sound Engineers….a raise!!!
Ridiculously clear and balanced!!!
I can't say I agree. The playing is fantastic, but I think it sounds like a poorly sampled electronic piano.
@@SergieRachmaninoff Yeah it's not like Open Studio hehehe
@@SergieRachmaninoffHow are you listening? Phone, headphones, speakers?
Isata is an amazing pianist! If you haven’t, please check out her albums. Also, check out her duet albums with her brother, Sheku! Amazing classical music. Thank you Tiny Desk, for featuring her in this! 🙌🏿🎶✨🎹🎻.
Oh this is Sheku’s sister! Was thinking she looked familiar 😅
There are 7 siblings. Another one is Jeneba kanneh-mason. You can check her out @Victor-lp6bp
My cousin killed it lol!!!!!!!!!
My Cousin Diamond Jim Greene 🪕 Old Old lady Is Cynthia Mason Greene , both are Marine's ⚓
My Cousin Diamond Jim Greene 🪕 Old Old lady Is Cynthia Mason Greene , both are Marine's ⚓
Very talented family 🙏🏿
One of the things I love about all the Kanneh-Masons, apart from the music which is always amazing, is the look of total concentration while they're playing which breaks into a beautiful smile when they finish.
Tiny Desk is my trustworthy musical talent scout. Whosoever plays at Tiny Desk, sooner or later will be on some massive stage. So this is why I listen to TD concerts all the time.
That Chopin Rondo is one of my all time faves and Isata nailed it.
Just marvellous, her siblings are very talented too. The family are a national treasure to us Brits, have a look at their tv specials too ❤️
The exact kind of artist I love to see on Tiny Desk! Isata is beloved here in the U.K. I’m glad to see her getting her flowers across the globe. ❤
I never thought hands could look so beautiful moving like that❤❤❤ what an amazingly talented woman🎉
Yas!
Great performance…she plays with serious authority. Technically and musically brilliant. I heard somebody in the audience say wow. I agree..wow. That second piece was so beautiful.
It's always fun to hear these kinds of works played on an upright piano!
Absolutely amazed by your tiny desk. 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿🔥🔥🔥🔥 I’m gonna look up Mr Samuel composition
I've been looping that last piece for almost an hour. Please do more such arrangements, they speak to the soul. 💟💟
I needed a peaceful moment. That was perfect. 💙
I have recently discovered Isata and was fascinated to read of her musical family. How lovely to see her on Tiny Desk!👏👏👏
Same❤
Amazing amazing Tiny Desk. NPR Tiny Desk didn’t think you could top 2024 but here we go !!!!!
And it's only 7 days in...
She's an amazing pianist for sure!!!!! had me at the first note!!!!!! Her technique which is focused had my attention all the way.
Absolutely, Positively, Fantastic!!!!!
The first few notes gave me chills. What a sound!
Watching her slender, graceful fingers is absolutely mesmerizing. Ty TD for showcasing her work.
My eyes locked in on the last name and my mind instantly said “This will be fire!”
A masterful tiny desk. Great camerawork enhances a tour de force performance. Thank you.
Beautiful! I had the pleasure of seeing Isata and Sheku in concert last month and it was magical. I wish you continued success, peace, happiness, and health. Stay grounded and keep practicing.
Ma'am your fingers are some sort of physics defying liquid-solid hybrid! Glad you're using you power for good!
Underrated comment
The piano is a beautiful instrument. It can be the bottom, the mid and the high. All you need to have a full band.
Wow just wow. Impressive all around. Well done 👍
I believe it's necessary to acknowledge one's biases. When I saw the thumbnail for this video I knew it would be amazing, as all Tiny Desk videos are. I admit I did not assume this to be an incredible classical piano performance. The majority of the classical pianists that I have experienced, in my admittedly casual listening, have been white or Asian men. The few female pianists that have shown up in mainstream settings have been white. I am very grateful that this video has shown me the talent of Isata Kanneh-Mason and challenged me to grow.
I think that's totally unnecessary, appreciate the amazing performance and have a very nice day!
check out her brother Sheku too.
Also check out her pianist sister Jeneba kanneh-mason
Absolutely incredible performances by Isata 🎹
I love that she shared some history and her admiration behind it ❤
Me too!
CHILLS!
The motherless child composition was so beautiful and soul activating. Thank you for this beautiful arrangement.
Thanks for your comment. I'm at a loss for words.🙏
Gorgeous!!! Wow, truly beautiful playing. I remember when her brother played, I actually went to see him in Toronto as a result of that video. I would go and see her anytime as well!
They're playing duo in Toronto in June
@ thank you!
Beautiful ~ thank you for showcasing this incredibly talented pianist! It was just incredibly calming and uplifting to listen to this while I was preparing supper
So good to see Isata here. Will keep an eye out for the 3rd soloist in the family - Jeneba 🤗
Isata Kanneh-Mason, you're an AMAZING artist!! Thank you Tiny Desk... I'm a new fan!!
In a word "Amazing". She looks so in a zone when she's playing and the smile after she's finished says it all. Thanks Tiny Desk for showcasing Ms. Isata, I will be checking out more of her music now. So peaceful.
Beautiful in every way, thank you!
What an opening is 👏 Love that she casually mentioned playing Chopin as one of the first composers she learned 😅 His music is not easy!
You are a gift! ❤️
Absolutely amazing! Bravo! Also, to the sound engineers, good job. Listening to this with headphones is perfect.
just stunning 💜thank you so much for the beautiful and moving music 💜
Isata's playing is breathtaking, inspirational, and fresh! 😊
que bonito. thanks Isata
Very Beautiful! Thank you Tiny Desk and Isata for such an amazing performance 🙏💗
Yes the vibes are here
I have watched this young lady since
Prince Harry’s wedding when her brother played three cello pieces and the next day he became a phenom
Now it’s Isata’s turn
She’s getting around as well and the world is noticing.
Bravo young lady.
All the family of seven kids are going places.
We have to thank Harry and Megan for introducing Sheku to the world a few years back.
We are excited in the classical music world.
This is great but not thanks to Harry and Meghan. He won BBC young musician of the year before that which helped propel him into the spotlight
This is a good regulator that our systems need for 2025. Sit back and allow the music to promote beauty, creativity, passion and introspection! Amazing artist 🫡🥰
Beautiful 🤍 Thank you Isata and Tiny Desk
Wow my ears are tingling. So proud of Isata and the whole fam as british sierra leonean myself 🇸🇱🇸🇱🇸🇱
Her love for the instrument really shines through. What a wonderful performance, thank you so much
Nostalgic and inspirational.
Absolutely extraordinary. Love the performance of S. Coleridge-Taylor's "Motherless Child."
My goodness! My dearest congratulations to you, lady! All the best!
You are an amazing artist - I love this tiny desk 💕💕
BRAVO!!! 🎉👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Beautiful ❤
From the first note I knew this would be amazing
Absolutely! 🙌🏿✨🎶
Absolutely stunning in both performance and presence. I'm in awe.
Beautiful!
beautiful Elegance...🔥
Wow, no other words needed
Magic hands, i love her
Great ❤ was looking for inspiring piano players who excel at solos , that are different , passionate , and found you 😊 you can see ( and hear) your hands and whole performance so clearly too! thanks Tiny Desk
Check out Isata's sister who is also a pianist. Her name is Jeneba Kanneh-Mason
PS Classic fm just uploaded her 1st movement of Rach 2
Her voice is even more magical in an intimate setting like this.
Fantastic performance!!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 TinyDesk is off to an excellent start😊
Bom dia! Obrigado por brindar a vida a boa música e que nunca acabe a munição!
Amazingly talented young woman! Thank you for introducing me to her, Tiny Desk.
Talented. Blessed. Powerful. Beautiful. Thanks for the introduction NPR. Now I’m off to discover more with this artist and her family. ❤
Check out Jeneba kanneh-mason and Sheku kanneh-mason
Gifted ❤ thank you for featuring this lovely lady's performance 😊
This was absolutely brilliant!!! Please open the lid next time :)
Such beautiful music❤
Consolation gave me the most beautiful chills, thank you ❤️
Absolutely beautiful. Thank you Tiny desk, I'm a soul diva however I studied classical music and used to be a piano tutor so this was welcoming. ❤❤❤
Wow im blown away by her!!
Wow! Brava!
What a joy. ❤
Ahhh...now this is music to my ears. I can actually hear different rhythms, melodies, different techniques, dynamics, tempos and feels. Yes, this is music.
Thank you Isata. Nice to see a young lady, burning up the piano,heheh. 👍
Absolutely superb performance of these three composers... Thank you, thank you Isata Kanneh - Mason!!!....
Sticky Fingers should definitely play Tiny Desk! Their live shows are out of this world.
So perfect, so representative....thank you!!! 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
Wow!!! 👏👏👏
Amazing to see what can be accomplished through talent and HARD WORK
Such a wonderful talent and I love your selections.
Perfect, perfect, perfect, oh my god!
Speechless....
Excellent!
It was so much pleasure! Thank you for this wonderful video🧡
Amazing! Thank you!
Love her playing!
Thanks for sharing. Great pianist ! Greetings for Spain
Such a gorgeous set! Thank you Isata!
Superbly talented wow
The closing arrangement… wow… phenomenal!
More ambitious musicians like Isata please!!
I clicked on this notification by accident but I’m so glad I did 😊
The most amazing thing about the Kanneh-Mason family... Mom, Kadiatu!
Amazing music and performance!
Fanastic, very impressed.
slayed, her technique is so interesting. so precise
I love this so much. ❤❤❤ new fan. So inspiring
A dream💛🦋✨