Signmypiano: Jessika's List - Music For Falling Asleep

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 t

Prelude in B-flat Minor Arranged in Major composed by Johann Sebastian Bach performed by Jeremiah Jones. This is a personal arrangement of Bach's Prelude in B-flat Minor BWV 867 - The Well-Tempered Clavier, Vol 1. As I played this piece, I mentally converted it from the minor key of B-flat to the parallel major key. I did this as a demonstration of how such simple alterations in music can make such a dramatic difference on the emotions and thoughts that the music evokes. Please click here (or visit the site) to listen to this work played in the original minor key and then listen to this arrangement again - hopefully you'll enjoy both!

Prelude in B-flat Minor BWV 867 - The Well-Tempered Clavier, Vol 1 composed by Johann Sebastian Bach performed by Jeremiah Jones. This is one of those preludes that is great for those times when words just cannot express the longings of the heart. To me, this prelude is like a lamentation or a mourning - something heartfelt and sincere. It is also in a fairly uncommon key - that of B flat minor. I hope that you enjoy my recording of this work.

Sonata in F Major K. 300k (332) - II Adagio composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performed by Jeremiah Jones. This is the 2nd movement of Mozart's Sonata in F Major and is a beautiful piece. I enjoy playing this piece during the calm, quite moments of the evening or early morning hours. This recording was completed at my home on my studio upright piano.

Partita No. 1 in B flat: Menuet 2 composed by Johann Sebastian Bach performed by Jeremiah Jones. This is the second of two menuets found in Bach's Partita No. 1 in B-flat major (Opus 1). I've always enjoyed this brief section of the work and it includes some tricky finger work despite the deceitfully simple harmonies. Bach certainly had a way of emphasizing the subtle harmonies to invigorate the soul! Bach himself wrote the following on the title page of the first volume of the Clavierubung (which consists of the 6 partitas): Keyboard Training, consisting of Preludes, Allemandes, Courantes, Sarabandes, Gigues, Menuets and other Galanteries, dedicated to Music Lovers for the Pleasure of their Minds

Chimes of Love Op. 47, No. 23 composed by Stephen Heller performed by Jeremiah Jones. This is my first recording of a piece by Stephen Heller. Heller lived the same life span as Franz Liszt, only offset by two years (Heller was 1813-1888 and Liszt was 1811-1886). Heller, like Liszt, was best known for his piano works and was quite a talented and famous composer for the greater part of his life. However, his reputation had all but dissappeared towards the end of his life. Heller produced an enormous volume of piano music and I enjoyed recording this brief work. This recording was completed at home on my studio upright.

Granada Op. 47, No. 1 (Serenata) composed by Isaac Albeniz performed by Jeremiah Jones. This is my first recording of a work by Isaac Albeniz. Albeniz was a Spanish composer born in 1860 who studied with several famous musicians, including the Great Franz Liszt. This work is from a larger Suite (Suite Espanola - Spanish Suite) which was composed in 1886. I hope you enjoy my recording of Albeniz's Granada.

Well Tempered Clavier: Prelude in C Major Original Version composed by Johann Sebastian Bach performed by Jeremiah Jones. This is a re-recording from my first, "Ave Maria" version of this prelude. I decided to record this work again in the original form which omits measure 23 of my previous recording. This false measure found its way into many well-known publications despite the fact that it is not authentic. I discovered this several months ago after purchasing Alfred's wonderful edition of the Well Tempered Clavier (book 1). I realized that my first recording was incorrect and decided that I should eventually remake the recording. Several weeks ago I had an astute listener further convince me when he pointed out that my recording was incorrect. So I have finally buckled down and recorded this beautiful prelude in its original form, but still with my own flair.

Prelude No. 9 in E Major BWV 854 composed by Johann Sebastian Bach performed by Jeremiah Jones. This prelude is one of my favorites to play when I need to slow down the pace of life. It is a pastorale as indicated by the 3rds in the melody line and the 12/8 time signature. The slow-moving, yet joyful Cantus Firmus is so beautifully augmented by the counterpoint voice. It is always amazing to me to think of the volume of wonderful music that Bach composed. I hope that you enjoy my interpretation and recording of Bach's Prelude in E Major No. 9.

Nocturne in F Minor (The Separation) composed by Mikhail Glinka performed by Jeremiah Jones. This is my first recording by Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857). Glinka studied piano with John Field and his influence can be felt in this piece. The work is a Nocturne composed for Glinka's sister, Elizaveta. She was away in St. Petersburg at the time it was composed and thus the title, "The Separation" is quite appropriate. I recorded this piece for my daughter, who recently experience an emotional separation of her own. She suffered the reality of watching her beloved snowman melt away as the temperature went up this last week. When she came back in the house after saying her final "goodbye" I played this piece for her and told her it was a song for her departed snowman. The recording was made at home on my studio upright. I hope you enjoy my interpretation of Glinka's "The Separation".

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.