KATHERINE DECKER

"[Decker] found charm and melodic elegance in the works, and so brought the long-neglected composer into her pedagogy and into her recital programs. The assorted groupings of pieces belong to Goltermann himself, sets of nocturnes and romances united by harmonic language, melody, and similarity of temper. Their common lyricism contributes to the popularity of the cello as an expressive, vocal instrument... Each [work] shows off Decker’s smooth legato... virtually any of these pieces alone or in small groups would make fine encores... The sonic production, engineered, edited, and mastered by John Hadden, is quite impressive in presenting Decker’s cello sound. 

Gary Lemco, American Record Guide [Janary/February 2023]

"This MSR Classics release is the only recording dedicated to [Goltermann’s music], a cause for congratulations for those concerned... Katherine Decker writes in her booklet notes of the 'easy-going melodies, the simplistic beauty of line and the ease of playing'. This describes the twenty-two pieces here perfectly... Decker’s cello playing is very smooth, with a rich timbre, which perfectly suits this music... The sound quality is very natural... [This album] is valuable in presenting these forgotten works, and the music is enjoyable..."

David Barker, MusicWeb International [August 2022]

There are many cellist-composers from past centuries that have faded from popularity. One goal of this recording is to help lift one of these composers, Georg Goltermann, out of obscurity and bring his music to a new generation of cellists and audiences. His romances and Nocturnes resonate with the human spirit due to the very simplicity and accessibility that helped them to fade from performance and use in the first place. We fall easily, as performers and teachers, into the trap of using only today’s “standard repertoire” and often forget that there is new music being created all the time as well as old music to be rediscovered. Georg Goltermann’s cello compositions are beautiful and useful and forgotten no longer. 

Katherine Decker has enthralled audiences across the country with her, “positively delightful performances,” and “…intense concentration and confidence” (Fanfare Magazine). She made her solo debut with the Valparaiso University Symphony Orchestra in 2001 and since then, has performed extensively as a solo and chamber artist. Since 2011, Dr. Decker has been a member of the award-winning ensemble, enhake. This contemporary classical chamber music ensemble has been awarded numerous prizes and has performed on concert stages across the world. With enhake, Katherine Decker has released Preparense: the Piazzolla Project on the MSR Classical label to critical acclaim. Dr. Decker is currently the Assistant Professor of Cello and String Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh as well as Co-Director of Chamber Music Intensive at The Clearing in Door County, WI, a week-long string quartet workshop for adult amateur string players. Previously she has been on faculty at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, the Chapel Hill Chamber Music Workshop, Music in the Mountains Conservatory and South Texas College. Dr. Decker holds degrees from Florida State University (D.M. & M.M.) and Valparaiso University (B.M.).

Praised by The New York Concert Review for “a solid foundation of fluent pianism” after her debut at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, Korean pianist Eun-Hee Park enjoys a diverse career as soloist, chamber musician, and educator. She has given numerous concerts throughout the United States, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Brazil, and Costa Rica. As a recording artist, she has released albums on the Naxos, Emeritus, MSR Classics, Navona Records, and Capstone labels. The Naxos album Gulfstream was selected as BBC Music Magazine’s Music US Choice, MusicWeb International's "CD of the Month," and Naxos Critics’ Choice. Concerning this particular album, Gramophone stated, “[p]ianist Eun-Hee Park's fast, light-fingered touch...provides numerous moments of purely physical delight." Dr. Park is an Assistant Professor of Music and Head of the Keyboard Area at the University of Montevallo. Her previous appointments include the University of Southern Mississippi, Southern Mississippi Piano Institute, Westport School of Music, Music in the Mountains Conservatory, the Hartt School, and the Chapel Hill Chamber Music Workshop. Park holds degrees from Florida State University (DM), Oklahoma City University (MM), and Colorado Mesa University (BA). GEORG GOLTERMANN (1824-1898)
NOCTURNE in B minor (Notturno et Saltarello, Op.59, No.1)

TROIS MORCEAUX DE SALON, Op.92
No.1: Nocturne in E minor
No.3: Romance in F major

TROIS ROMANCES SYMBOLIQUES, Op.95
Romance No.1 in C major, “La Foi” (Faith)
Romance No.2 in A major, “La Charité” (Charity)
Romance No.3 in F major, “L’Espérance” (Hope)

NOCTURNE in C major (Quatre Morceaux de Salon, Op.102, No.1)

TROIS ROMANCES SANS PAROLES, Op.90
Romance No.1 in G major
Romance No.2 in C major
Romance No.3 in D minor

NOCTURNE in D minor (Quatre Morceaux Caractéristiques, Op.43, No.3)

NOCTURNE in G major (Suite of Four Solos, Op.49, No.1)

NOCTURNE in G major (Quatre Morceaux Caractéristiques, Op.54, No.1)

ROMANCE in D major (Modern Suite, Op.122, No.2)

ROMANCE in D major (Quatre Morceaux de Salon, Op.35, No.1)

NOCTURNE in A minor (Trois Morceaux Faciles, Op.115, No.3)

ROMANCE in A minor (Romance et Tarantelle, Op.60, No.1)

ROMANCE in E minor, Op.17

TROIS NOCTURNES, Op.125
Nocturne No.1 in G major
Nocturne No.2 in E-flat major
Nocturne No.3 in F major

ROMANCE in A major (Four Salon Pieces, Op.96, No.1)
 

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Recorded 30 August–1 September 2019 in the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Music Hall, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Produced, engineered, edited and mastered by John Hadden [www.johnhadden.com]. Piano technician: John Imoberstag.

UPC: 691585167328



MSR Classics