Bang on a Can All-Stars

Bang on a Can All-Stars is a Grammy Award-winning American music ensemble founded in 1992 by the composers and artistic directors of the Bang on a Can organization. Hailed as "the country's most important vehicle for contemporary music" by the Boston Globe, the group is celebrated for its virtuosic, high-energy performances that dissolve boundaries between contemporary classical, minimalism, rock, and jazz. The ensemble has premiered hundreds of new works, collaborating with a vast array of composers and artists, and has performed in major venues worldwide, from the Brooklyn Academy of Music to the Sydney Opera House.

History

The ensemble was formed in 1992 as the performing arm of the Bang on a Can collective, founded by composers David Lang, Julia Wolfe, and Michael Gordon. Their inaugural major project was a tour with Steve Reich, performing his seminal work City Life. This established a pattern of deep collaboration with foundational minimalist and post-minimalist figures. A pivotal early commission was Industry by Michael Gordon, which expanded the group's sonic palette. Landmark residencies at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the University of Massachusetts Amherst's Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics further solidified their reputation. Their international profile soared with extensive global tours and a celebrated residency at the Holland Festival, cementing their status as cultural ambassadors for new American music.

Music and Style

The ensemble's repertoire is defined by its catholicism and rhythmic drive, often described as "totalist" or post-minimalist. They are renowned for interpreting works by major composers such as Brian Eno, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass, whose music Glassworks they have famously recorded. Their style synthesizes the complex structures of Contemporary classical music with the amplified energy of Rock music and the improvisational spirit of Jazz. This is evident in projects like their radical re-invention of Brian Eno's ambient classic Music for Airports and their collaborations with artists like Meredith Monk and Glenn Kotche of Wilco. Their performances are characterized by precise, amplified acoustics and a theatrical, engaging stage presence that challenges traditional Chamber music conventions.

Members

The founding and core members have included an acclaimed roster of soloists: cellist Ashley Bathgate, clarinetist Evan Ziporyn (also a composer for the group), pianist Vicky Chow, percussionist David Cossin, and guitarist Mark Stewart. Bassist Robert Black was a foundational member until his passing. The ensemble operates flexibly, often expanding to include additional performers for specific projects, such as collaborating with the Kronos Quartet or vocalist Shara Nova. This core group of musician-composers contributes significantly to the ensemble's distinctive sound and collaborative ethos, with each member also maintaining a prolific career as a soloist and commissioner of new works.

Discography

The All-Stars have a prolific recording catalog primarily on their home label, Cantaloupe Music, co-founded by the Bang on a Can founders. Key albums include Music for Airports (1998), their re-imagination of Brian Eno's work, and Big Beautiful Dark and Scary (2012), featuring works by Julia Wolfe. Their album Field Recordings (2015) won critical acclaim, featuring collaborations with artists like Mira Calix and Florent Ghys. Other significant releases include Renegade Heaven on Nonesuch Records and David Lang: Pierced on Cantaloupe Music. Their recordings have frequently appeared on year-end best lists from publications like The New York Times and The Guardian.

Awards and Recognition

The ensemble won a Grammy Award in 2022 for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance for their recording of David Lang's the loser. They have also been honored with multiple Musical America Awards and an Obie Award for their groundbreaking theater work The Carbon Copy Building. The group's members have individually received prestigious accolades such as the Pulitzer Prize for Music (Julia Wolfe, David Lang) and Guggenheim Fellowships. Their influence was institutionally recognized with a major residency at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and their work is regularly supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Aaron Copland Fund for Music.

Category:American contemporary classical ensembles Category:Musical groups from New York City Category:Musical groups established in 1992