Julia Wolfe’s Anthracite Fields

Julia Wolfe takes you to the coal mines of Pennsylvania, near the small town where she grew up, yet a place the composer long perceived as the Wild West. With the poignant Anthracite Fields, she pays tribute to the miners and their families who, for decades, literally fueled the wealth of the United States at the expense of their own health. Electric guitars growl like heavy machinery, repetitive rhythms mimic the monotonous labor, and lyrical vocal lines give voice to forgotten lives—from young breaker boys to union leader John L. Lewis. The music feels urgent, exhilarating, and surprisingly relevant today.

For this compelling work for choir and amplified ensemble, the Flemish Radio Choir and Bart Van Reyn join forces with the Bang on a Can All-Stars, for whom Wolfe wrote the piece in 2014. Together, they prove that all the praise—and the prestigious Pulitzer Prize—are more than deserved.