I completely understand your problem (from direct personal experience), but I do suggest that you won't have that problem on a better upright. The upright I practice on (apart from that it needs tuning) is a good instrument and I have no problem producing a consistent and even pp (in fact, I often find it easier than on some grands), but there are some uprights where it's really hard to go below mf without the risk you mention above, of no sound. They simply aren't very good pianos, or have been badly maintained.

Maybe Richard can take off the front of his piano and then strap on a harness that can hold his music. A little like this. Just raise it up and put the music on top.

Or print the sheets out small and dangle them from his silly hat.

the solution is to memorise, not a bad thing either.

I will need to look on the net for microphones. Thank you.

But I don't wear hats indoors! My mother taught me gentlemen do't do it.

Actually, at present the stand on the piano is too low and I place the scores on a lectern which is then placed on top of the open lid., rather at the same level where they would be on a grand piano.

Is the piano placed with its back against a wall? You'll get a very different sound if you can move the piano away from the wall and put the microphones/recorder behind the piano.

Yes, Alexander, it is against the wall. I was thinking of moving it, but I cannot at present. Besider quality of sound, it is, logically, the only place I can place the recorder so that it is not with one of the microphones closer to the sound source than the other.