The COVID epidemic imposed unanticipated stresses on pretty much everyone. These stresses resulted in much pain and suffering but also prompted a variety of creative responses. This one, by the composer/producer/broadcaster Howard Hersh, consists of four pieces for solo instruments (flute, marimba, piccolo, and violin). The first piece, “Solo” (2006) for flute and the second, “Jitterbug” (2016) for marimba are rather straightforward soliloquies for their respective instruments.

The third, “I Had to Go Down to the Mines to Climb Up to the Sky” (2013) is for piccolo solo but with 16 pre-recorded tracks. It is a rather large and substantive work comparable to Steve Reich’s multitrack works (though not in a minimalist idiom here). The 16 prerecorded tracks create the sound of a chamber orchestra much like Henry Brant’s compositions for flute choirs that began the genre with “Angels and Devils” (1931, rev 1947), a concerto for flute and flute orchestra.This piece successfully exploits the instrument’s limitations and advantages with intelligent choices that create a new sound world. Really enjoyable piece and a fine contribution to this unusual genre.

Last but certainly not least is “Crown of Feathers” (1992) for solo violin, its title taken from an Isaac Bashevis Singer short story, this work is a composer’s personal coming to terms with the Nazi Holocaust from the perspective of lost Jewish communities.Written for and played by Liana Bérubé, it is a deeply felt work which incorporates Yiddish melodies. It reminds this listener to some of Ernest Bloch’s works celebrating Judaism and Jewish life.