Steel Hammer by Julia Wolfe & Bang on a Can All-Stars with Trio Mediaeval
Inspired by her love for the music and lore of Appalachia, Julia Wolfe based her text for Steel Hammer (called a “wild hybrid” by the New York Times) on over 200 versions of the “John Henry” ballad, which has been recorded by everyone from Johnny Cash to Bruce Springsteen. A runner-up for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize, Steel Hammer features the alternately haunting and whimsical vocalizations of Norway’s renowned Trio Mediaeval, and stretches the standard instrumentation of the Bang on a Can All-Stars with wooden bones, mountain dulcimer, banjo, clapping, clogging and more.
credits
Tracklist
| 1. | Some Say | 9:48 |
| 2. | The States | 9:48 |
| 3. | Destiny | 11:05 |
| 4. | Mountain | 8:51 |
| 5. | Characteristics | 5:47 |
| 6. | Polly Ann / The Race | 15:49 |
| 7. | Winner | 1:22 |
| 8. | Lord, Lord | 6:03 |
Credits
released April 29, 2014
BANG ON A CAN ALL-STARS
Ashley Bathgate – cello
Robert Black – bass
Vicky Chow – piano, melodica
David Cossin – drums and percussion
Mark Stewart – electric guitar, banjo, mountain dulcimer, jaw harp, harmonica, clogging, humming
Evan Ziporyn – clarinets, harmonica, whistling, humming
TRIO MEDIAEVAL
Anna Maria Friman
Linn Andrea Fuglseth
Torunn Østrem Ossum
BANG ON A CAN ALL-STARS
Ashley Bathgate – cello
Robert Black – bass
Vicky Chow – piano, melodica
David Cossin – drums and percussion
Mark Stewart – electric guitar, banjo, mountain dulcimer, jaw harp, harmonica, clogging, humming
Evan Ziporyn – clarinets, harmonica, whistling, humming
TRIO MEDIAEVAL
Anna Maria Friman
Linn Andrea Fuglseth
Torunn Østrem Ossum
