More Field Recordings

In 2015’s Field Recordings, the Bang on a Can All-Stars invited composers to explore new and old recorded snippets of everyday sounds or scraps of melody, and write music in response. More Field Recordings takes the idea further with works of a more visceral, experimental style—small riots of quirky innovation. Gabriella Smith’s “Panitao” imitates bird calls, while Nico Muhly’s “Comfortable Cruising Altitude” juxtaposes plane-engine noise, ambient chit-chat and a crying baby with ensemble music that grows intimately immersive. Anna Thorvaldsdottir’s “Fields”, meanwhile, blends sinister footsteps and knocking with a stunning palette of fractured musical phrases.