Hymnfelt Piano is a collection of ten hymns, some very familiar and some a little less so, arranged and performed by James Michael Stevens. As the title suggests, the hymns are played on a felted piano, which is a technique where felt or another soft fabric is placed between the piano hammers and the strings, softening the sound of the hammers hitting the strings. There are several approaches to doing this, and the effects range from slight changes in the sound quality of the piano to an almost unrecognizable sound where all of the inner workings of the piano can be heard in addition to the music. It's a technique that has become quite popular in recent years, and I would say that James' approach on this album is very moderate. The percussive quality of the piano is softened quite a bit and a small portion of the piano action sound comes through, giving his arrangements a more meditative and prayer-like feeling that would be very appropriate in a number of settings.

In addition to his amazing output of original compositions and arrangements, Dr. Stevens is the Dean of the School of Music at Welch College in Gallatin, Tennessee. Hymnfelt Piano is his sixth solo piano album for 2024 (so far!) and the thirtieth album of his that I have reviewed since 2019. He now has 7588 songbooks and pieces of sheet music on Sheet Music Plus - 33 more than last month! The sheet music for Hymnfelt Piano is available from that site either singly or as a songbook and is transcribed by the composer/arranger to match the recordings note-for-note.

Hymnfelt Piano begins with "On Jordan's Stormy Banks," a hymn that dates back to 1787. James' arrangement focuses on the simple melody and makes it feel very warm and personal. "Near To the Heart of God" was composed in 1901 and is a hymn I wasn't familiar with. The heartfelt melody is accompanied by simple chords that allow it to gently soar. "I Need Thee Every Hour" also dates back to the early 20th century and remains a very popular, prayerful hymn. "Jerusalem" is one of my favorite hymn melodies, and James gives it a lighter touch than I expected - a beautiful arrangement! "What Wondrous Love Is This" is another new hymn for me, and I love its deeply emotional quality. "There Is A Fountain" is a classic early-American hymn and James' arrangement is gentle and prayerful. "The Water Is Wide" must be one of the most popular hymns for the past ten years or so, and James' arrangement keeps it simple, honest and heartfelt. The album comes to a peaceful close with "Sweet By and By," a classic American hymn played with gentle devotion.

If you are looking for a collection of quiet solo piano hymns, Hymnfelt Piano is a really good choice. The album is available digitally from Amazon, Apple Music/iTunes and streaming platforms including Spotify. The sheet music is available from SheetMusicPlus.com and SheetMusicDirect.com as single sheets and digital songbooks.