SignMyPiano: Jessika's List - Music for Falling As

Intermezzo in A Major Op. 118, No. 2 composed by Johannes Brahms performed by Jeremiah Jones. Apparently this is my first release of a Brahms piece on my website! I did not realize I was missing such an important composer in the classical reportory until now... This piece is a beautiful Intermezzo by Brahms - one that was introduced to me by a colleague at Washington University in St. Louis. The piece has a wonderful way of playing with dissonant harmonies, coming to quick and peaceful resolution - only to be disrupted again by a twist of harmonics. It's quite wonderful. I believe this is one of those pieces of music that is far more enjoyable to play than to listen to - so for all of you pianists out there, be sure to add this to your list of works! Simply listening to the various harmonies and how they interact (or cease to interact) is a wonderful study in music and leads to some great pedal-work as well! Enjoy!

Woodland Sketches Op. 51, No. 1 (To a Wild Rose) composed by Edward MacDowell performed by Jeremiah Jones. This is a very well-known melody by the American composer, Edward MacDowell. He has wonderful music, including this piece, and I encourage pianists everywhere to get to know his music. I hope to record several more of his works over the coming months and years. This piece is often played as prelude or postlude in churches or for weddings. It has a beautiful melody and is accompanied by an equally beautiful harmonic progression. As my first recording of an American composer, I hope that you enjoy it!

Cantabile in B-flat major, B.84 (Cantabile) composed by Frederic Chopin performed by Jeremiah Jones. A beautiful, short piece by Chopin... his "Cantabile" in B-flat is a well-known work that provides a few subtle challenges wrapped in simple melody and carried by enchanting harmonies. I hope that you enjoy my recording of this work - recorded at home on my 1941 Steinway AIII.

Op. 100 No. 3 - Pastorale (Pastoral) composed by Johann Friedrich Burgmuller performed by Jeremiah Jones. Here is No. 3 in Burgmuller's set of 24 etudes for piano, Op. 100. Recorded on my Steinway AIII. I hope that you enjoy it!

Poco Allegretto composed by Cesar Franck performed by Jeremiah Jones. Here is a short piece by Cesar Franck that I came across in one of my sheet music sets. I love the melody and the way that Franck uses hanging tones to harmonize. This recording is dedicated to a young listener, Sayuri, from Brazil. I hope that she will enjoy listening to this recording!

Harmony of the Angels Op. 100, No. 21 composed by Johann Friedrich Burgmuller performed by Jeremiah Jones. A brief work that has some surprisingly difficult dynamics to it. This was recorded at my home on my Steinway A III. I hope that you enjoy this recording.

Ave Maria (Andante Religioso): Op. 100, No. 19 composed by Johann Friedrich Burgmuller performed by Jeremiah Jones. My first recording of a work by Burgmuller. I discovered this work in Alfred's "Classical Music for the Church Service: Volume 2." I apologize in advance if people stumbled on this piece looking for one of the many other works titled, "Ave Maria." :-) This recording was performed at my home on my Steinway A III. I hope that you enjoy it!

Op. 46, No. 29 (Elegy) composed by Alexander Goedicke performed by Jeremiah Jones. Alexander Goedicke was a Russian composer and pianist who, despite having no formal training in composition, was quite gifted in composition. There is little information on this short work, but I find the melody to be enchanting. This recording was performed at my home, on my Steinway AIII. I hope that you enjoy this recording.

Clair de Lune (Moonlight) composed by Claude Debussy performed by Jeremiah Jones. It's finally here! I've had a request for the popular "Clair de lune" more times than any other work. I finally committed to recording this a couple of weeks ago and here it is! I hope that my interpretation and recording will not be a disappointment to those who have patiently waited. Clair de Lune, translated as "moonlight" is one of Debussy's most popular pieces. It is a beatiful work that has much room for interpretation. In fact, the debates about how this work should be played can become quite heated. Although it was composed in 1882, it was not published until 1926. Apparently, this piece has had a resurgence of popularity due to the release of the movie Twilight - as it appears as a bonus track on the movie's soundtrack. I've never seen the movie, but if you have, and you liked it, then maybe this recording will mean even more to you. This recording was completed in my home on my Steinway A III piano. I hope that you enjoy it!

Partita No. 1 in B flat Major Opus 1 - Sarabande composed by Johann Sebastian Bach performed by Jeremiah Jones. This Sarabande is an excerpt from Bach's Partita No. 1 in B-flat. I have also recorded the Praeludium previously. I have always loved the serene melody that makes up this Sarabande. I play this piece much slower than is typical in a performance. However, I find it to be so exquisite and sonorous that I can't help but relish in every chord and beat. This is one of those works that I will often pull out at times when I want to reflect or meditate. It is perfect for moments when only music can express the joy and peace that life can and should supply.

Romance sans paroles Op. 17, No. 3 (Romance without Words) composed by Gabriel Faure performed by Jeremiah Jones. I had never heard of this piece until I recently purchased the book Anthology of Romantic Piano Music published by Alfred and edited by Maurice Hinson. I instantly fell in love with the melody. The canon at measures 40-55 is a bit tricky and I should have given it quite a bit more study and practice, but it is what it is :) This recording was completed at my home on my studio upright. I hope you enjoy it.

Waltz in A-flat Major Op. 69, No. 1 (L adieu Valse - The Farewell Waltz) composed by Frederic Chopin performed by Jeremiah Jones. This waltz was published posthumously (after Chopin had died). The Waltz is often called "The Farewell Waltz" (L'adieu Valse) because of its origins. The work was supposedly written as a farewell piece to Maria Wodzinska, to whom Chopin was once engaged. However, because her father refused to allow her to be married to an impoverished musician, the two never married. In my recording I try to bring out the melancholic feel that would surely accompany such a parting. This recording was made at my home on my studio upright. I hope you enjoy my interpretation of Chopin's famous "Farewell" Waltz in A-flat Major.

Andantino composed by Cesar Franck performed by Jeremiah Jones. This is a fairly simple work that hides within it Franck's organ technique. Cesar Franck wrote many pieces for the organ and although this is written for piano, the voices within the piece seem reminiscent of an organ work. This is my first recording after a long "break" from music (I broke my foot and was unable to record for several months). I hope that you will enjoy my recording of this piece - which also happens to be my first piece by this composer.

Duet Op. 38, No. 6 (Songs Without Words - Duetto) composed by Felix Mendelssohn performed by Jeremiah Jones. This work is one of the pieces in Mendelssohn's Songs without Words (Lieder ohne Worte) and is considered one of his most beautiful works for piano. This piece is a duet between two voices of the piano, and should be played in a way that makes the voices truly sing. The voices alternate throughout the beginning of the work, combine for a masterful climax, and then come together again at the end for a most beautiful coda. The last several measures are particularly beautiful when played as written. The final A-flat and C in the second to last measure should be played with enough emphasis (with the left hand) that the two notes stand out - as they are the two voices combined for their final harmony. This chord should be held down and switched (without releasing the sound) to the right hand so that the left hand and two fingers of the right hand can play the final two chords. These should not be held for too long as the concluding sound of the piece should be the resonating harmony of the duet's voices (the A-flat and C). Careful inspection of the last three measures will make this quite obvious. This is truly a beautiful work. I have dedicated this recording to my sister, Jenifer, who first introduced me to this piece several years ago. You can read the dedication on my piano blog. This recording was made at my home on my studio upright piano. This piano is much too bright for this work, so the recording is not ideal; but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.

Sonata Op. 13 No. 8: II Adagio cantabile (Pathetique - Patetica 2nd Movement) composed by Ludwig Van Beethoven performed by Jeremiah Jones. This recording is the 2nd movement of Beethoven's popular Sonata Pathetique Op. 13 No. 8. The second movement is Adagio cantabile. "Cantabile" indicates that this movement should be played like a song, or something that has a distinct melody that one could sing along with. This piece was composed in 1798 and published the following year. You can read further commentary on this piece, including a dedicatory note by visiting this page of my piano blog. This selection was recorded at my home on my studio upright piano.

Scenes from Childhood Op. 15, No. 13 (Der Dichter spricht - The Poet Speaks) composed by Robert Schumann performed by Jeremiah Jones. This piece is one of the short pieces presented in Schumann's Opus 15, Scenes from Childhood. This is the final piece in the Opus and can be interpreted a thousand different ways. I have always loved this work. Perhaps because I love poetry so much? In any case, this short piece is both inspirational and thought-provoking. I have dedicated this recording to a wonderful woman, Judy Stockett and her dear husband, Jerry Stockett. You can read my full dedication to them on my SignMyPiano blog or by clicking here.

Nocturne in E Minor Op. 72, No. 1 (posthumous) composed by Frederic Chopin performed by Jeremiah Jones. This Nocturne was one of Chopin's earliest known Nocturnes and was composed in 1827 when Chopin was only 17 years old. However, Chopin never desired the work to be published and so it was not published until 1855 after his death. This work is one of my favorite of Chopin's Nocturnes. It was recorded at my home on my studio upright. If you enjoy listening to this piece, please consider making a donation towards my future Steinway Model B Piano.

Nocturne in E-flat Major Op. 9 No. 2 composed by Frederic Chopin performed by Jeremiah Jones. I am a little rusty on this nocturne, and unfortunately, it shows! However, I couldn't help recording this for Mother's day because it has special meaning to my wife and me. So I am dedicating the recording of this Nocturne to my beloved wife. Happy Mother's Day!

Sonata in C Major K. 300h (330) - Andante cantabile composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performed by Jeremiah Jones. This is the Andante section of Mozart's Sonata in C Major. Although the Sonata begins and concludes in C Major, this particular excerpt from the piece is in F Major. It was composed in the summer of 1778. I am dedicating this recording to my dear mother. Mozart is her favorite composer and I have grown to adore this andante section of the sonata. Visit www.signmypiano.com to learn how you can sign your name to my piano and be a part of my music!

Nocturne in C-Sharp Minor (Posthumous) composed by Frederic Chopin performed by Jeremiah Jones. This nocturne was published posthumously, which simply means that it was published after Chopin past away. It was composed in 1830 (Chopin would have been about 20 years old at the time) but not published until 1875. This piece, like most of Chopin's nocturnes, has a mysterious and enchanting quality to it. I cannot help but wonder why Chopin never published this work. Perhaps it did not live up to his standard? Or perhaps it was simply not intended for public performance? The first edition of this work included the following instruction: "For my sister Louise to play, before she practices my second Concerto." -- so perhaps Chopin wrote this merely as a "prelude" for practicing and as such never had it published? Whatever the reason, this work has become one of the more well known of the Nocturnes despite Chopin's disinterest in publication. This recording is dedicated to the Lloyd family. This work was recorded at my home on my studio upright. As always, I invite you to consider a donation towards the purchase of a new piano for my recordings. You can learn more by visiting www.signmypiano.com.