Helping to Sell a Piano to Raise Funds for the Gina Bachauer Foundation

The Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation received a beautiful Baldwin Model L piano as a donation. They are now selling that piano to raise funds to use towards their admirable mission to "promote and perpetuate the pianistic art!"

If you are aware of somebody looking for a grand piano, then be sure to pass along the website.

Muzio Clementi's Sonatina Op. 36 No. 3

Here is the 3rd Sonatina in the set of Six Sonatina's by Muzio Clementi. I hope to find the time to finish all six before the end of 2011 :)

I hope that you enjoy this recording. You may download it from my website, http://www.lisztonian.com/, or by subscribing to my free iTunes or Zune podcast.



Happy Listening!
Jeremiah Jones

New Signatures Added to Piano!

THANK YOU to the many people who have contributed to my music in so many different ways. I especially thank those who have shown support through generous financial contributions. Each recording session costs me approximately $180 (USD), not counting the many hours both before and after each recording. As a result, the kind and thoughtful donations from my listeners are a welcomed and sincerely appreciated gift.

Each individual who donates has the opportunity to include a "signature" that is permanently printed on a plaque mounted to my piano's music stand. I try to update the names on the plaque every few months and just got it back from "the shop" with the latest round of signatures. You can view all of the signatures and donations by clicking here. To go striaght to the pictures, click here.

My heart is always so touched by the thoughtfulness of my listeners. I've received so many words of encouragement and am constantly uplifted by the sincere expressions you give. THANK YOU!

If you would like to have your signature included on the piano, you are always welcome to make a donation of any amount by visiting the donation page on my website. Additionally, there are many other ways you can contribute to spreading a love for classical music! For more information on ways to contribute, click here.

Wishing you all the very best,
Jeremiah Jones

Schumann Fantasy in C Op. 17 III Lento Sostenuto

There are often life events that occur which cause deep reflection, sincere probing, and eventually a complete surrender to the lack of mortal ability to truly comprehend the workings of the universe. The term "unpredictable" is hardly adequate in describing the paths that weave our lives together, and sometimes tear our lives apart. As I find myself at these junctions in life, I find peace and safety in turning my heart to God, the Father of us all. I consider this a willing submission - an understanding that my thoughts are insignificant when compared to a higher, revelatory omniscience; an acceptance of my human weakness; an adoration for a caring and all-knowing Creator. To those who view my religious pining as a flaw, detriment, or weakness, I say, "let me have my religion!" Why disfavor a spiritual sense that brings peace during turmoil, purpose to the confusion of life, and inspires to entreat others with love and brotherly kindness? Is it a flaw to lift one another's burdens, a detriment to warm a saddened heart, or a weakness to lift the head that hangs down? Let me have my religion!

These are some of the thoughts that enter my heart as I listen to or play the final movement of Schumann's masterpiece keyboard work, Fantasy in C. I've just released my recording of this final movement and invite each of you to listen and reflect on what this music means to you. To me, it is a reflection of some of my heart's most intimate and tender feelings.

As always, you may visit my Lisztonian website to download this latest recording or subscribe to my free iTunes or Zune podcast to automatically receive new recordings. You may also listen to this recording by using the media player below (where available).



Jeremiah Jones

Muzio Clementi's Sonatina Op. 36 No. 2

I just finished publishing the next (No. 2) Sonatina in the set of Six Sonatina's by Muzio Clementi. This was recorded at the request of a listener. These Sonatinas are fun to play and I highly recommend them to any budding pianist.

I hope that you enjoy this recording. You may download it from my website, http://www.lisztonian.com/, or by subscribing to my free iTunes or Zune podcast.



Happy Listening!
Jeremiah Jones

How do you mic your piano?

A visitor to my Facebook fanpage just presented the question:

"How do you mic your piano for these recordings and how many?"

So here is the answer!

All of my recordings prior to the Ecossaises release on July 11th were made on my Pearl River upright. I recorded for many years on this piano with limited success. I tried several ways to mic the piano but it just wasn't a recording-quality instrument. However, the best sound tended to come by opening the lid and removing the kickplate (not sure what to call it) that covers the strings beneath the keyboard. I then placed my mics about 6-8 feet back (about as far back as the room would allow) pointed towards the top of the piano. I kept the mics about a foot apart.

With my new piano, I have only had one recording session so far, but compared to my previous recordings, the sound was spectacular! For this one, I opened the lid on the piano and placed the mics about 6-8 feet back and about a foot apart - just like my old configuration. I figured I'd start with that approach as I had limited time and had the best success with that on my upright.

So that is how I've done it - but as anybody who has attempted to record a piano knows, there are limitless ways to mic a piano and it will depend on the desired sound, the piano, the mics, the room, and the alignment of the planets. Here are some other resources that I've used in my decision-making and experimentation:

• Mic techniques for studio recording
• Several great ways to mic a piano
• Home Piano Recording

For equipment, my budget is limited, so I use two PRO 25 microphones (about the cheapest I could get away with). I originally recorded with just one, and eventually saved up to purchase the second. I was a poor college student when I first started my recordings, so even one microphone was a huge luxury. I then purchased the lowest-cost mixer that I could find at the local guitar shop to use in converting the audio signal into something that my computer could understand. I use Nero's WaveEditor to record onto the computer and to clean it up as best as I can. On some of my recordings I have then used Audacity and the GlaceVerb plugin to add a touch of reverb as my living room is so small and is not an acoustically ideal setting.

Good luck in your own recordings!

First Recording on the NEW PIANO! Beethoven's Ecossaises WoO 83

It's finally here! My first recording on my newly-acquired Steinway A III :) I've been recording music on my upright piano for several years and am so excited to finally be recording on such a fine instrument.

The piano was freshly tuned, regulated, and voiced earlier the morning of the recording session to make sure that it would sound its best. I hope that all of my listener's will enjoy the refreshing new sound!

Now for a little information about the work. This recording is a short, little piece by Beethoven. It is an Écossaise, which is a Scottish dance full of energy and wide-ranging dynamics. I am not aware of any title for this work other than Écossaise Serie 25 No. 302 (WoO 83). If anybody out there has heard of a commonized title, please let me know! This was a fun piece to learn and remains fun to play. My 7 year old daughter enjoyed it so much that she asked me to teach it to her. I hope that you will enjoy it as well!

In addition to the audio recording, I also made a home video of me performing the work. You can watch that below (if it shows up) or here, on my YouTube channel.


You can download the MP3/WMA or the PDF of the score from this link. As always, the recording is also available on my free iTunes podcast.

ENJOY!
Jeremiah Jones