Unto Ashes
Encyclopedia
Unto Ashes is a musical ensemble based in New York City
that incorporates madrigal
, folk
, and elements of neo-medieval
and dark wave. Founded by Michael Laird and Susanna Melendez in 1997, the band has released five full-length CDs on the Projekt label (all recorded and produced by Laird). Previous members and contributors have included Paul Ash
, Kit Messick, Melody Henry, Spider Grandmother
(pseudonym), Ericah Hagle, Jeremy Bastard (pseudonym), and Catherine Bent.
In 2006, the band toured Europe with Qntal
, one of their main musical influences.
(acoustic and electric), hammered dulcimer
, Appalachian dulcimer
, hurdy-gurdy, violin
, piano
, keyboards
, drums
, percussion
, cello
.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
that incorporates madrigal
Madrigal (music)
A madrigal is a secular vocal music composition, usually a partsong, of the Renaissance and early Baroque eras. Traditionally, polyphonic madrigals are unaccompanied; the number of voices varies from two to eight, and most frequently from three to six....
, folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, and elements of neo-medieval
Neo-Medieval music
Neo-Medieval music is a term used to describe a variety of styles within modern popular music. A common characteristic of these styles is that they contain elements of Medieval music and early music in general...
and dark wave. Founded by Michael Laird and Susanna Melendez in 1997, the band has released five full-length CDs on the Projekt label (all recorded and produced by Laird). Previous members and contributors have included Paul Ash
Paul Ash
Paul Ash was a German-born musician, bandleader, conductor, and lyricist....
, Kit Messick, Melody Henry, Spider Grandmother
Spider Grandmother
The Spider Grandmother is creator of the world in Native American religions and myths such as that of the Pueblo and Navajo/Dineh peoples. According to mythology, she was responsible for the stars in the sky, she took a web she had spun, laced it with dew, threw it into the sky and the dew became...
(pseudonym), Ericah Hagle, Jeremy Bastard (pseudonym), and Catherine Bent.
In 2006, the band toured Europe with Qntal
Qntal
Qntal is a German "electro-medieval" band founded in 1991 by Michael Popp and Ernst Horn. They later added vocalist Syrah to complete the band. It has roots in Estampie, a band of similar genre but different style; Michael Popp and Syrah are the principal members. Horn left the group in 1999, to...
, one of their main musical influences.
Instruments
GuitarGuitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(acoustic and electric), hammered dulcimer
Hammered dulcimer
The hammered dulcimer is a stringed musical instrument with the strings stretched over a trapezoidal sounding board. Typically, the hammered dulcimer is set on a stand, at an angle, before the musician, who holds small mallet hammers in each hand to strike the strings...
, Appalachian dulcimer
Appalachian dulcimer
The Appalachian dulcimer is a fretted string instrument of the zither family, typically with three or four strings. It is native to the Appalachian region of the United States...
, hurdy-gurdy, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
.
Albums
- Moon Oppose Moon (1999 · Projekt [USA])
- Saturn Return (2001 · Projekt [USA])
- Empty Into White (2003 · Projekt [USA] / Kalinkaland [Germany])
- I Cover You With Blood (EP) (2003 · Projekt [USA] / Kalinkaland [Germany])
- Grave Blessings (2005 · Projekt [USA] / Kalinkaland [Germany])
- Songs For A Widow (2006 · Projekt [USA] / Pandaimonium [Germany])
- The Blood Of My Lady (2009 · Projekt [USA])