Winterfelt Lullabies is pianist/composer James Michael Stevens' last album for 2024 and is a collection of ten felted piano solos, several of which have a winter theme. The pieces are soft, gentle and restful, and the felting enhances that effect. (If you are new to felted pianos, it refers to a technique where a piece of soft cloth [often felt!] is placed between the hammers and strings to soften the percussive effect of the hammers hitting the strings.) Lullabies are traditionally music to lull babies to sleep, and I think this album would work well for that, but it is also very suitable for relaxation, studying, quiet background music, and to help "kids" of any age fall asleep. The Dean of The School of Music at Welch College in Gallatin, Tennessee, Dr. Stevens has been releasing an average of at least one album a month for several years, making him one of the most prolific composers on the planet.
The album begins with "Winterfelt Lullaby No. 1 (Felt Piano)," a gentle piece that makes me think of morning sparkles on newly-fallen snow. On this track (and a few others), a couple of the piano keys make a light percussive sound that adds a nice touch to the music. "Snow Angels" is a beautiful piece that alternates between major and minor modes, telling slightly different stories with the key changes - a favorite. "Pristine Prelude" is very spare - especially the left hand - and reminds me of the beauty of sun dancing on the brilliant white of new snow. The chill expressed in "Phrygian Winter" makes me think it could also be titled "Frigid Winter." Brrr - yet very beautiful! In "Flurries," the left hand alternates with the right in playing the melody, placing it in both the bass and treble areas of the piano keyboard. My favorite track on this album is "Talia's Waltz," a slow, graceful waltz tinged with just a bit of melancholy. I also really like "A Peaceful Snow" - the perfect soundtrack to the silence of a gentle snowfall. "Sweet December" makes me think of a romantic evening with a fire in the fireplace and beautiful Christmas decorations all around - dreamy and blissful. "Elegance" is a bit more stately without losing its warmth or charm. The album comes to a close with "Winterfelt Lullaby No. 10 (Snow in the Pines)," a lovely portrait of another breathtaking snowy winter scene in nature.
Winterfelt Lullabies is available to stream or download on Amazon and Apple Music/iTunes, and is on many streaming services including Spotify and Pandora. Sheet music is also available either as a complete songbook or individual pieces, and is also
reviewed on MainlyPiano.com. Good stuff!