Howard Hersh's "I Had to Go Down in the Mines to Climb up to the Sky" with glimpses into my family's history in the coal mines of Wales and Pennsylvania that inspired the music. This is a 3 minute sample -the complete work is 11:30 minutes. Scored for piccolo solo and 16-recorded piccolo accompaniment. 16 tracks recorded by Drew Taurisano. Premiere on the Festival of New American Music, Sacramento State University, November 2017. Sheet music available from the composer in 2018; recorded choir rentals in 2019.
To read more about Howard Hersh’s work for 17 piccolos and Lois’ recording project please visit:
"High Notes" the Flutist Quarterly Summer, 2018. p. 16 as accessed from 2018 convention notes made available online from the National Flute Association
Canary in a Coal Mine Project, FluteView magazine, November 2107
Powell Flute Blog, July 16, 2015
"Your concert was a fantastic success and I was very pleased with how everything came together." - Stephen Blumberg, Ph.D., Co-Director, Festival of New American Music
"It was such a please to meet you and hear your concert! I heard many positive comments about your performance from audience members later in the festival, particularly in reference to Howard (Hersh)’s piece." - David A. Wells, Co-Director, Festival of New American Music
The power point introduction to the premiere of Howard Hersh's, I Had to Go Down in the Mines to Climb Up to the Sky at the Festival of New American Music, Sacramento California.