Cherished Dreams
James Michael Stevens
2023 / James M Stevens Music
34 pages / 11 songs
Review by Kathy Parsons
Cherished Dreams is the companion sheet music collection for James Michael Stevens' 2023 recording by the same name. All eleven pieces from the album are included, transcribed by the composer. It's interesting to note that James Michael Stevens actually writes his music out first and follows it as he records. (With many composers, the recording comes first or someone else transcribes the sheet music from the recording.) With well over 7000 items on Sheet Music Plus, Dr. Stevens is quite possibly the most prolific composer on the planet. His music is not overly complicated, but is always full of heart. It is very suitable for students and other pianists at an intermediate playing level, but because the music is very expressive, it is also pleasurable for more advanced pianists to just sit down and play for their own enjoyment.
With a theme of "Cherished Dreams," most of the pieces are very, well, dreamy! A couple of them have night themes, but there are no nightmares (I doubt anyone cherishes their nightmares!). None of the pieces are longer than three pages and none have difficult key signatures or rhythms. Dynamics and tempo changes are well-marked and the notation is well-spaced and easy to read. Metronome settings are included at the beginning of each piece. There are no reaches of more than an octave, so pianists with smaller hands should have no problems with any of the chords.
Cherished Dreams and James Michael Stevens' other music is available to download from SheetMusicPlus.com and SheetMusicDirect.com. Individual pieces are also available to download. Recommended!
The titles of the pieces and the key(s) they are in are:
Cherished Dreams - Key of Bb (2 flats)
In the Moment You Believe - Key of G (1 sharp)
Morning Promenade - Key of Eb (3 flats)
The Peaceful Swan - Key of E (4 sharps)/ E minor (1 sharp)
Stone Horizons - Key of C minor (3 flats)
Snow Spring Etude - Key of C (0 sharps or flats)
Midnight Musings - Key of D minor (1 flat)
Serene Arioso - Key of G (1 sharp)
Misty Blue - Key of C (0 sharps or flats)
Night Whispers - Key of A minor (0 sharps or flats)
All Your Cherished Dreams - Key of Bb (2 flats)
April 9, 2023