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''Anthracite Fields'' is an oratorio for choir and chamber ensemble by the American composer Julia Wolfe. The work was commissioned by the Mendelssohn Club with contributions from New Music USA and was premiered by Bang on a Can All Stars and the Mendelssohn Club Chorus in Philadelphia, April 26, 2014. The piece was awarded the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Music. The oratorio commemorates the history of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Coal Region in what the Pulitzer Prize citation described as "a powerful oratorio for chorus and sextet evoking Pennsylvania coal-mining life around the turn of the 20th Century."〔 Music critic Mark Swed of the ''Los Angeles Times'' praised the composition as "an unforgettably haunting, harrowing evocation of the plight of Pennsylvania's coal miners, incorporating many musical styles and effectively shadowy visuals." ==Background== Anthracite is a form of coal that can be used for domestic fuel. The name of this oratorio, ''Anthracite Fields'' is a tribute to those who “persevered and endured in the Pennsylvania Anthracite coal region.” The entire piece consists of five movements, "Foundation," "Breaker Boys," "Speech," "Flowers," and "Appliances." *"Foundation": this movement is to honor those who have died in mining accidents in Pennsylvania through 1869 to 1916. The names of those who have died were sung in the piece. *"Breaker Boys": this movement is a tribute to the breaker boys: boys who were working in Pennsylvania mines and removed coal from breakers. *"Speech" is the third movement. In this movement, Julia Wolfe uses a speech by John L. Lewis who fought for safe working conditions for these miners. *"Flowers:" This movement was created and inspired by an interview conducted with Barbara Powell who is the daughter and granddaughter of one of the miners. In an interview, she stated, “We all had gardens” and began listing flower names. *"Appliances" is the last movement. The words used in this movement were taken from a coal-powered railroad ad; coal during the 20th century was a fuel source for the nation, and this is the movement's theme.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Anthracite Fields」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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