Spontaneous solo piano improvisation sits at the heart of American pianist Mario Mattia’s “Hymn,” a contemplative piece shaped by open harmonies and subtle echoes of traditional hymn melodies. A graduate of the New England Conservatory, Mattia has spent more than two decades developing an improvisational practice guided by intuition rather than predetermined structures, with influences spanning classical composition, jazz, and ambient music. Here, he allows the piano’s shifting emotional shades to unfold organically, moving between quiet introspection and moments of luminous clarity.
The piano work is gorgeous throughout, initially lush and twinkling with introspectively serene qualities. The gentle opening of delicate piano work expands thereafter into a more solemn-toned allure, deeper and sonorous as a sense of gratitude is conveyed in the melodic progression. A return to the more illuminated, starry-eyed tone unveils around 02:30, with the pitches of the piano intertwining cohesively before the four-minute mark embraces a reserved, minimalist elegance.
A vibrancy then unveils around 04:30, the brightened piano work there excelling before a final minute that embraces a more reserved, contemplative caressing. “Hymn” is a consuming overall success from Mario Mattia, delighting in moments that span from more reserved intrigue to fluttering, effersetcent beauty. Both his musicianship and tendency for rewarding improvisation are on full display here, marking a wholly memorable showing from Mario Mattia.
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The track is also featured in the genre-based, best-of Spotify compilation Rainy Days and Late Night Drives.
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