An appreciation by Adrian Farmer, Nimbus Music Director In the winter of 1979, just a few months after joining Nimbus Records and fresh out of Music College, I recall very clearly sitting in the control room, surrounded by boxes of analogue tapes containing the complete piano works of Mendelssohn played by Martin Jones. Nimbus founders, Numa Labinsky, Michael and Gerald Reynolds had, in the previous days, played me Martin's unreleased recordings of the Variations Serieuses and Rachmaninoff's Corelli Variations, and I was keen to discover if this incredibly fluent, muscular playing was typical of all his work. There was no disappointment; everything confirmed that here was a special talent, and a keyboard titan. At that date very few of the Mendelssohn recordings had been edited, despite having been made at various intervals over the previous nine years. Nimbus had moved from it's Birmingham base in 1975 and was now preoccupied developing an LP pressing business that would enable it to release it's own recordings. With nothing to lose, and no experience to give me pause for doubt, I offered to prepare the masters for the Mendelssohn, if someone would spare the time to show me how to use a razor blade. So it was that a few weeks later I phoned Martin, and told him that the Mendelssohn was done and he should come to Monmouth to listen. He probably didn't believe me; after such a long delay he must have thought that ship had sailed. In fact the eventual release of the complete Mendelssohn would not happen until 1986 and on CD rather than LP. Nonetheless the flame was rekindled, and 35 years on from that phone call (45 counting from Martin's first recording), we can look back over a musical partnership that is one of the cornerstones of the Nimbus catalogue. In addition to his contributions to the repertoire Martin has always been our 'go-to' performer for microphone tests and experiments. He helped with selection of new Steinway 'Ds' in 1995 and 2012, he has played for hours on end while we put new microphones through their trials, and when we assessed the acoustic properties of the new concert-hall at Wyastone Leys. He was the first person to make videos for Nimbus, and, as part of his birthday year, will initiate a video library of performances on-line. Martin has been witness to every step of Nimbus's progress, and continues to be there to lend his support. This box set is our way of celebrating a major birthday, and an enduring friendship. Happy Birthday, Martin, and thank you from the Nimbus Family, past and present

Tracklist:

Sonata In B Minor, Op.145: I. Allegro Con Brio
Romance, Op.755, No.13
Three Caprices, Op.33, No.1
Songs Without Words, Book 1, Op.19
Study No.2
Intermezzo, Op.76, No.3: Grazioso
Hungarian Dance, No.10: Presto
Barcarolle In F-Sharp
Iberia Book 2: I. Rondeña
Etudes 2e Livre: VII. Pour Les Degrés Chromatiques
Etudes 2e Livre: VIII. Pour Les Agréments
Etudes 2e Livre: IX. Pour Les Notes Répétées
Study II On Chopin's Valse, Op.64, No.1
Frohsinn
Richard Strauss - Ständchen
Variations On A Theme Of Corelli, Op.42
Allegro De Concierto, Op. 46
Lírica Española I, Op. 54: I. Evocatión Costeña
Lírica Española I, Op. 54: II. Danza Del Valle
Lírica Española I, Op. 54: III. Canción De Cuna
Lírica Española I, Op. 54: IV. Paso De Bail Serrano
Lírica Española I, Op. 54: V. Canto De La Umbria
Lírica Española I, Op. 54: VI. Ritmos De La Huerta
Piano Sonata, Homenaje A Domenico Scarlatti
Nocturno Otoñal, Recordando A Chopin
Cadena De Valses
Cants Màgics: I. Energic
Cants Màgics: II. Obscur
Cants Màgics: III. Profond - Lent
Cants Màgics: IV. Misteriòs
Cants Màgics: V. Calma
Sanlúcar De Barrameda, Op. 24: I. En La Torre Del Castillo
Sonatina In G Minor: I. Allegretto
Sonatina In G Minor: II. Lento Muy Expresivo
Sonatina In G Minor: III. Presto
Fantasía Bética
Barcarolles: No. 2
Masques, Op. 34: I. Scheherazade
Masques, Op. 34: II. Tantris Le Bouffon
Sérénade En La: I. Hymne
Sérénade En La: II. Romanza
Sérénade En La: III. Rondoletto
Sérénade En La: IV. Cadenza Finale
24 Preludes, Op. 83: VIII. Allegro Pesante
24 Preludes, Op. 83: IX. Vivace
24 Preludes, Op. 83: X. Grave
24 Preludes, Op. 83: XI. Andante Grazioso E Scherzando
24 Preludes, Op. 83: XII. Con Moto
4 Kleine Fröhliche Walzer: I. Gretl - Grazioso
4 Kleine Fröhliche Walzer: II. Margit - Espressivo
4 Kleine Fröhliche Walzer: III. Gisi
4 Kleine Fröhliche Walzer: IV. Mitzi
Seven Etudes On Song Melodies: I. Somebody Loves Me
Seven Etudes On Song Melodies: II. I Got Rhythm
Piano Sonata No. 3, Op. 40
Children’s March, "Over The Hills And Far Away"
Der Rosenkavalier: Ramble On The Last Love-Duet
Twelve Preludes & Fugues, Op. 32: No. 8 In D Major
Twelve Preludes & Fugues, Op. 32: No. 11 In B Major
Variations On An Original Theme, "The Lambeth Walk"
Eloge De La Danse: I
Eloge De La Danse: II
Eloge De La Danse: III
Eloge De La Danse: IV
Eloge De La Danse: V
Eloge De La Danse: VI
15 Portraits D'enfants D'auguste Renoir: X. La Petite Pêcheuse
15 Portraits D'enfants D'auguste Renoir: XI. Mademoiselle Grimprel Au Ruban Bleu
15 Portraits D'enfants D'auguste Renoir: XII. Au Piano
15 Portraits D'enfats D'auguste Renoir: XIII. Filette Au Chapeau A Plume Rose
15 Portraits D'enfants D'auguste Renoir: XIV. Les Enfants De Madame Charpentier
15 Portraits D'enfants D'auguste Renoir: XV. Le Petit Collegian
Eclogue For Piano And String Orchestra, Op. 10
Piano Concerto No. 2 In F Major, Op. 102: I. Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 2 In F Major, Op. 102: II. Andante
Piano Concerto No. 2 In F Major, Op. 102: III. Allegro
Allegro De Concierto
Lírica Española I: I. Evocatión Costeña
Lírica Española I: II. Danza Del Valle
Lírica Española I: III. Canción De Cuna
Lírica Española I: IV. Paso De Bail Serrano
Lírica Española I: V. Canto De La Umbria
Lírica Española I: VI. Ritmos De La Huerta
Sonata, Homenaje A Domenico Scarlatti
Nocturno Otoñal, Recordando A Chopin
Cadena De Valses
Cants Màgics: I. Energic
Cants Màgics: II. Obscur
Cants Màgics: III. Profond - Lent
Cants Màgics: IV. Misteriòs
Cants Màgics: V. Calma
Sanlucar De Barrameda: I. En La Torre Del Castillo
Sonatina: I. Allegretto
Sonatina: II. Lento Muy Expresivo
Sonatina: III. Presto
Fantasia Bætica
Barcarolle No.2
Masques, Op.4: I. Schererzade
Masques, Op.4: II. Tantris Le Bouffon
Sérénade En La: I. Hymne
Sérénade En La: II. Romanza
Sérénade En La: III. Rondoletto
Sérénade En La: IV. Cadenza Finale
24 Preludes, Op.83: VIII. Allegro Pesante
25 Preludes, Op.83: IX. Vivace
26 Preludes, Op.83: X. Grave
27 Preludes, Op.83: XI. Andante Grazioso E Scherzando
28 Preludes, Op.83: XII. Con Moto
Vier Kleine Fröhliche Waltzer: Gretl, Grazioso
Vier Kleine Fröhliche Waltzer: Margit, Espressivo
Vier Kleine Fröhliche Waltzer: Gisi
Vier Kleine Fröhliche Waltzer: Mitzi
Seven Études On Song Melodies: Sombody Loves Me
Seven Études On Song Melodies: I Got Rhythm
Piano Sonata No.3, Op.40
Children's March 'over The Hills And Far Away'
Richard Strauss Der Rosenkavalier, Ramble On The Last Love Duet
Twelve Preludes & Fugues, Op.32: VIII In D
Twelve Preludes & Fugues, Op.32: XI In B-Flat
Variations On 'the Lambeth Walk'
Eloge De La Danse: I
Eloge De La Danse: II
Eloge De La Danse: III
Eloge De La Danse: IV
Eloge De La Danse: V
Eloge De La Danse: VI
15 Portraits D'enfats D'auguste Renoir: X. La Petite Pêcheuse
15 Portraits D'enfats D'auguste Renoir: XI. Mademoiselle Grimprel Au Ruban Bleu
15 Portraits D'enfats D'auguste Renoir: XII. Au Piano
15 Portraits D'enfats D'auguste Renoir: XIII. Filette Au Chapeau A Plume Rose
15 Portraits D'enfats D'auguste Renoir: XIV. Les Enfants De Madame Charpentier
15 Portraits D'enfats D'auguste Renoir: XV. Le Petit Collegian
Eclogue For Piano And String Orchestra
Piano Concerto No.2: I. Allegro
Piano Concerto No.2: II. Andante
Piano Concerto No.2: III. Allegro

UPC: 0710357171826
Label: Nimbus Records
Release Date: 6.9.15
Format: CD

Martin Jones - 75th Birthday Tribute (4 CD)