A performance of an original work for flute ensemble and narration by Julie Hobbs, with a recitation of the poem "Aerial View of Catastrophic Flooding" by Appalachian poet Pauletta Hansel.
This original composition, written for flute ensemble and narration, is based on the Appalachian folk tune "Down by the River to Pray." The music serves as a backdrop for Pauletta Hansel's powerful poem "Aerial View of Catastrophic Flooding," a work inspired by Facebook posts from survivors of the 2022 Eastern Kentucky floods, which include words of despair, calls for help, and a message of hope. The work premiered in August 2025 at the National Flute Association Convention, eliciting a remarkably powerful audience response that demonstrates how the arts can communicate, memorialize, and heal. In addition to a live performance, the session includes a discussion about the origins and history of the project.
