Resonant Earth:

Sounding the Landscape Through Her Voice

(a National Park Commissioning Project)

The National Parks are among the most treasured places in the United States—spaces that preserve not only breathtaking natural landscapes but also the rich cultural and historical stories of the nation. People visit to explore, reflect, adventure, and connect with something larger than themselves. These sites have long inspired artists, musicians, photographers, and dancers alike.

This evolving commissioning project invites women composers to create new works for oboe and English horn, each inspired by a National Park Service site in their home state. From scenic vistas to historic trails, these pieces celebrate the diverse voices and places that shape America's past and present.

why the project began…

The project began with a goal to create music written for oboe and harp for all 5 National Park sites in Minnesota. As National Park travelers, my daughter and I have a goal to visit all 433 National Park sites and we have been to 250+ of them in the last 8 years. When commissioning composer Katherine Bergman to create a new work for Dúo León (oboe and harp) I thought that it would be gratifying to play a piece about a National Park site in Minnesota. This is where the idea began and it has been expanding since that initial thought!