This art song, originally a poem I wrote in 2021, commemorates the Covid-19 period while celebrating my passion for the piano. During quarantine, the piano became my closest companion, the only voice I had in an otherwise silent house. Through the dramatic shifts in this piece, I aim to reflect the stark contrast between the bustling, noisy world before quarantine and the stillness that followed—a time for deep reflection, and contemplation.

“Virescent Labyrinth” is a contrapuntal toccata for flute, clarinet, and bassoon, drawing inspiration from Soviet-Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian and the German Baroque master Johann Sebastian Bach. Through exploring the uncommon combination of the woodwind trio and the format of toccata, the piece embodies the spirit of adventure and exploration, using rapid key and chord changes along with the distinct tonal qualities of each instrument to evoke a playful sense of humor.