The sounds of wooden bones, mountain dulcimers, steel hammers, banjos and medieval vocals will echo through Memorial Hall tonight.
Hear Bang on a Can, Trio Mediaeval
- 7:30 p.m. today
- Memorial Hall
- www.carolinaperformingarts.org
Two groups, Bang on a Can and Trio Mediaeval, have melded traditional chamber music with eccentric rock to create a new sound, which they are bringing to UNC through the Carolina Performing Arts series.
“I look forward to a handful of performances each season, and this has been on my list for a while,” said Harry Kaplowitz, marketing manager for CPA.
Touring together for the first time, the groups began their current U.S. tour in Florida and will end in New York.
Julia Wolfe, a composer and founding member of Bang on a Can, composed a new piece for the current tour, which will be performed tonight.
Only performed once before, at the band’s first tour stop in Gainesville, Fla., “Steel Hammer,” is based on the legend of John Henry.
Henry was a steel-driving man who was the fastest in town. He raced against the new steam-powered hammer to see who could lay more track faster — Henry won, but died that day from working too hard.
Inspired by Appalachian mountain music, the piece colorfully blends diverse instruments, depicting Henry’s struggle.
“The creation is very much based on Appalachian music, which is sort of out of the realm of these two groups’ comfort zones,” Kaplowitz said.
Emil Kang, director of CPA, said Wolfe’s composition caught his attention because of Wolfe’s love for Appalachian music and how that ties into local culture.
Bang on a Can fits well with non-commercial forms of art, which CPA tries to bring to the University, he said.
Bang on a Can has five core members, including bassist Robert Black, drummer David Cossin, guitarist Mark Stewart and clarinetist Evan Ziporyn, with additional guest artists.
“It is a great contemporary music ensemble that blends classical music with rock and jazz,” Kang said. “They have a huge following around the world.”
Bang on a Can embraces different types of music by working with unique sounds and interesting cultural stories or backgrounds.
The band’s collaborator for this tour, Trio Mediaeval, is a Norwegian group made up of singers Anna Maria Friman, Linn Andrea Fuglseth and Torunn Ostrem Ossum.
The singers capture the melodies of medieval musical traditions from England and France, contemporary songs and Norwegian medieval ballads.
Through their unusual sounds, instruments, and composition choice, today’s performance will be an interesting combination of talent.
“Bang on a Can is always redefining what music is,” Kaplowitz said.
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
