CD: Julia Wolfe, 'Anthracite Fields'

Artists: julia wolfe, composer / Bang on a Can All-Stars / Choir of Trinity Wall Street,

Released on Cantaloupe Records, 2015

Julia Wolfe spent a great deal of time researching stories from the coal-mining district she grew up in, in Pennsylvania while writing Anthracite Fields. She travelled widely, visited museums, interviewed miners’ families and even ventured deep, deep underground to experience the cramped, dark mines for herself. The result of her enquiries is an hour-long oratorio that won her a Pulitzer Prize in 2015.

Some lucky timing meant I was able to meet up with Julia in New York and discuss, in person, the diverse references in Anthracite Fields. Each of the five movements look at coal-mining through a variety of perspectives such as geology, history, politics, anthropology, economics, mythology and biology, touching on themes as diverse as child labour, advertising and modern day use of appliances. Her many references were reflected in the album artwork.

Read more about the design of this release on the website ‘Seeing New Music’.