In American Soliloquy, Sherman set out to demonstrate that there has been no “typical” American sound. Each piece explores tonality, rhythm, form, timbre, and flute technique in its own unique way. But all share the challenge of creating a satisfying, complete-feeling composition for a solo instrument, in this case solo flute.
The composers include Katherine Hoover, Elizabeth Brown, Gary Schocker, Ingolf Dahl, Sarah Bassingthwaighte, Philip Glass, Adolphus Hailstork, Wallingford Riegger, Arthur Lourié, Lowell Liebermann, David Amram, James Willey, Stanley Weiner, David Maslanka, Jennifer Higdon, Virgil Thomson, John La Montaine, and Ernst von Dohnányi, all but three of which are native-born Americans.
In approaching the album, Richard Sherman asked, “How can one construct a piece that feels long enough, that proceeds logically from beginning to end, that ‘tells a story,’ that contains enough dramatic contrast to keep it interesting, all on an instrument that has a relatively limited range (at least compared with a piano or a large ensemble) and can only play one note at a time?”
Each of these composers provides a unique answer.
Katherine Hoover (1937–2018)
1. Kokopeli for Solo Flute (5:08)
Gary Shocker (b. 1959)
Short Stories for Solo Flute
2. No. 1 (1:47)
3. No. 2 (1:07)
4. No. 3 (0:55)
5. No. 4 (1:18)
6. No. 5 (1:23)
7. No. 6 (1:15)
8. No. 7 (1:40)
Sarah Bassingthwaighte (b. 1967)
9. Amhrán na hEascainne (6:02)
Adolphus Hailstork (b. 1941) — Flute Set for Solo Flute
10. I. Moderato con anima (1:20)
11. II. Vivo (0:44)
12. III. Lento e teneramente (3:04)
13. IV. Allegretto (0:58)
Elizabeth Brown (b. 1953)
14. Trillium for Solo Flute (5:18)
Ingolf Dahl (1912–1970)
15. Variations on a Swedish Folktune for Flute Solo (14:15)
Philip Glass (b. 1937) — Serenade for Solo Flute
16. I. Prelude (1:59)
17. II. Caprice (1:17)
18. III. Intermezzo (1:36)
19. IV. Lament (2:45)
20. V. Arioso (1:27)
21. VI. Finale (2:04)
Wallingford Riegger (1885–1961) — Suite for Flute Alone, Op. 8
22. I. Moderato (1:56)
23. II. Vivace (1:43)
24. III. Molto con sentimento (2:52)
25. IV. Allegro ironico (2:12)
Arthur Lourié (1892–1966) — Dithyrambes
26. I. Le Sacrifice du Miel (3:19)
27. II. Plainte d'Ariane (2:59)
28. III. Labyrinthe (4:43)
David Amram (b. 1930)
29. Overture and Allegro (4:42)
Stanley Weiner (1925–1991) — Sonata pour flûte seule
30. I. Allegro (5:03)
31. II. Lento (5:12)
32. III. Allegro molto vivace (4:31)
Jennifer Higdon (b. 1962)
33. Song (6:58)
John La Montaine (1920–2013) — Sonata for Flute Solo
34. I. Questioning (3:04)
35. II. Jaunty (2:42)
36. III. Introspective (2:45)
37. IV. Rakish (2:06)
Lowell Liebermann (b. 1961)
38. Soliloquy for Solo Flute, Op. 44 (5:53)
James Willey (1939–2026)
39. After (In Memoriam, Sydney Hodkinson) (7:55)
David Maslanka (1943–2017)
40. A Song of Coming Awake: Variations on "Christ ist erstanden" (8:56)
Virgil Thomson (1896–1989) — Sonata for Flute Alone
41. I. Adagio – Allegro (3:46)
42. II. Adagio (4:39)
43. III. Vivace (2:32)
Ernst von Dohnányi (1877–1960)
44. Passacaglia for Flute Solo, Op. 48, No. 2 (9:45)
