A WELL-KNOWN South Petherton pianist will be recording an album on a historic piano telling the history of these fascinating instruments through music.

Jonathan Delbridge is well known for his exciting, varied, and interesting concerts on both piano and organ and recently he has been giving several performances using his Regency Period Broadwood Square Piano.

Audience members have been fascinated by this instrument and its connection with Jane Austen, Elgar, and more.

Jonathan is keen to be able to share this instrument with a wider audience and will therefore be recording the album in early 2024.

It will feature pieces of music with a connection to square pianos and there will be a comprehensive accompanying booklet with further information on the history of these pianos. Joining Jonathan on some of the tracks will be mezzo-soprano Molly Jasmine Soo.

The piano Jonathan will be using in the recording was built by Broadwood, one of the leading piano companies of their time, in 1814 and was fully restored by Lucy Coad in 2007.

For further information or if you are interested in booking Jonathan to give a concert on the square piano, contact info@jonathandelbridge.com.

There is the opportunity to support Jonathan in this project and pre-order a signed copy of the album at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-story-of-the-square-piano

A message on Jonathan’s website read: “In 2016 Jonathan formed the South Somerset Community Choir which has now grown to over 50 members who sing a wide variety of music from show tunes to popular songs and jazz standards.

“Jonathan also directs the Ilminster Belles ladies choir and Mosaica who are a smaller choir singing mostly unaccompanied choral music.”

It also added: “His varied and creative concert programmes have been enjoyed by audiences from the magnificent Royal Albert Hall and Birmingham Symphony Hall to more intimate settings such as his own village church in South Petherton.”