Frederic Rzewski (1938- )
Frederic
Rzewski is among the major figures of the American musical avant-garde
to emerge in the 1960s, and he has been highly influential as a
composer and performer. Born in Westfield, Massachusetts, he earned his
B.A. in music at Harvard, and later received an M.F.A. from Princeton,
where he had the privilege of studying with Roger Sessions and Milton
Babbit. A Fulbright scholarship allowed him to travel to Florence in
1960 to study for a year with Luigi Dallapiccola. Since then, except
for a five-year period in the 1970s, he has mainly lived in Europe. He
first came to public attention as a performer of new piano music,
having participated in the premieres of such monumental works as
Stockhausen's Klavierstück X (1962).
In 1966, he founded, with Alvin Curran and Richard Teitelbaum, the
famous ensemble Musica Electronica Viva (MEV). MEV combined free
improvisation with written music and electronics. These
experimentations directly led to the creation of Rzewski's first
important compositions, pieces such as Les moutons de Panurge,
a so-called "process piece," which also combines elements of
spontaneous improvisation with notated material and instructions.
Rzewski's improv-classical hybrids are some of the most successful of
the kind ever produced thanks to the fervent energy at the core of his
music. During the 1970s, his music continued to develop along these
lines, but as his socialist proclivities began to direct his artistic
course, he developed new structures for instrumental music that used
text elements and musical style as structuring features. Attica, which
includes the recitation of a prison letter, and The People United Will Never Be Defeated,
a virtuosic set of piano variations, are his most well-known works of
the period. In 1977, he was made professor of composition at the Royal
Conservatory of Liège, Belgium, and has continued to teach there since.
During the 1980s, Rzewski produced a number of surprising twelve tone
compositions that (happily) provided fresh ideas of what could be done
with serial systems. The 1990s saw him revisiting, via scored music,
some highly spontaneous approaches to composition that recall his
inspired experiments of the late 1960s. Rzewski's music is among that
which defines postwar American new music. He has consistently given the
exuberant boyish pleasures of a composer like Copland within the
rigorously experimental framework of a composer like Cage. Often
unapologetically tonal and fun, Rzewski's music cuts right through the
frequent churlishness of avant garde music.- Donato Mancini, All Music Guide
COMPOSITIONS Rzewski Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre ~ ~ ~ Rzewski on Rzewski
Chain of Thought, piano (1953)
Tabakrauch, piano (1954)
Preludes, piano (1957)
Poem, piano (1958)
Introduction and Sonata, 2 pianos (1959)
Study 2 (Dreams), piano (1961)
Nature Morte, small orchestra (1964)
Speculum Dianae, any 8 improvisational players (1964)
Selfportrait, any player (1964)
Zoologischer Garten, tape (1965)
Requiem, Part 1, speaker, male chorus, Jew's harp, pf, org/elec. simulation, tubular bells, bull-roarer, woodblock, radio (1963-67)
Prose Pieces, improvisational ensemble (1967-68)
Les Moutons de Panurge, any number of melody instruments (1968)
Last Judgment, trombone (or any number of unison trombones) (1969)
Jefferson, voice and piano (1970) [text: Thomas Jefferson]
Freud, voice (1970)
Falling Music, piano (1971 (also version for amplified piano, tape, 1971)
Coming Together, speaker and variable ensemble (1971)
Second Structure, improvisational ensemble (1972)
Attica, speaker and variable ensemble (1972)
Struggle Song, voice and variable ensemble (1973) [also arr. for chorus by Gregory Rose]
- Struggle Song, chorus (1973) [arr. of vocal work by Gregory Rose]
No Place to Go but around, piano (1974)
36 Variations on 'The People United Will Never Be Defeated!', piano (1975)
Song and Dance, flute, bass clarinet, double bass and vibraphone (1976)
Thirteen Instrumental Studies, variable ensemble (1972-77)
Four Pieces, piano (1977)
Moonrise with Memories, bass trombone and chamber ensemble (any 6 soprano-range instruments) (1978)
Squares, piano (1978)
North American Ballads, piano (1978-79) [each of its four sections may be performed separately]
- Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues, 2 pianos (1980)
A Long Time Man, piano and orchestra (1979)
Three Pieces, soprano saxophone, trombone and piano (1979)
Le silence des Espaces Infinis, female chorus, any player, 7 orchestral groups and tape (1980)
The Housewife's Lament, harpsichord (1980)
The Price of Oil, 2 voices/vocal ensembles, 8 amplified pipe ensembles and any 2 similar ensembles (1980)
Aria, flute (1981)
Pennywhistlers, recorder (1981)
Snacks, voice, chorus ad libitum and any ensemble ad libitum (1981)
Antigone-Legend, voice and piano (1982) [text: Bertolt Brecht; translated by Judith Malina]
Songs, voice and piano (1973-83)
Satyrica, guitar, double bass, piano, synthesizer, vibraphone, percussion and band (1983)
Una Breve Storia d'Estate, 3 flutes and orchestra (1983)
Wails, bass clarinet (+ sopranino saxophone), piano and 2 percussionists (1984)
A Machine, 2 pianos (1984)
Mayakovsky, speaker, piano and string quartet (1984)
Mary's Dream, soprano, contrabass clarinet, cello, piano and percussion (1984)
The Persians – Les Perses – Die Perser, music theatre work (1985)
Lost and Found, percussion (player also speaks) (1985)
To the Earth, percussion (player also speaks) (1985)
Force, 2 speakers, any 1-2 wind instruments, any 1-2 plucked instruments, 1-2 noisemakers and weigher ad libitum (1985)
Chains (12 TV operas), voice and 6 players (1986)
Spots, any 4 players (1986)
Don't Have it Today, double bass (player also speaks) (1986)
Eggs, piano (1986)
Steptangle, piano (1986)
The Triumph of Death, staged oratorio (1987-88) [text: Peter Weiss]
The Turtle and the Crane, piano (1988)
Mayn Yingele, piano (1988)
The Waves, speaker and variable ensemble (1988)
The Lost Melody, clarinet, piano and percussion (2 players) (1989)
Roses, flute, clarinet, trumpet, tuba, violin, cello, accordion and percussion (1989)
Fantasy, piano (1989)
Tinkleberries (collection of ditties), voice and any number of players (1980-90)
Aerial Tarts, flute, clarinet/saxophone, violin, cello, piano and percussion (2 players) (1990)
Whangdoodles, hammer dulcimer (+ mallet instruments ad libitum), violin and piano (1990)
Shtick, clarinet/soprano saxophone (1990)
Bumps, piano (1990)
Ludes, piano (1990-91)
Sonata, piano (1991)
De Profundis, piano (1991-92)
Knight, cello (1992)
Andante con Moto, piano (1992)
A Life, piano (1992)
The Burghers of Rostock, voice and piano (1992)
Holes, any 4-8 players (1993)
Crusoe, any 4-12 players (1993)
Histories, 4 saxophones (1993)
Whimwhams, marimba and string quartet (1993)
Night Crossing with Fisherman, 2 pianos (1994)
Fougues, piano (1994)
Snippets, speaker and piano (1994)
Stop the War!, chorus (1995)
Stop the Testing!, chorus (1995)
Family Scenes, flute, 3 saxophones, horn, 3 trumpets, 2 trombones, bass trombone, double bass/bass guitar & piano (1995)
Turns (The Road, Part 1), piano (1995) ["The Road, Part 1"]
When the Wind Blows, fl, soprano sax, tenor sax, bar. sax, flügelhorn, trombone, gtr, double bass/bass guitar & piano (1996)
Tracks (The Road, Part 2), piano (1996) ["The Road, Part 2"]
Scratch Symphony, orchestra (1997)
Movable Types, orchestra (1999)
Spiritus, 4 recorders and percussion (1997)
Tramps (The Road, Part 3), piano (1997) ["The Road, Part 3"]
Logique, voice, flute, cello and piano (1997) [text: Paul Verlaine]
ForHanns, flute, clarinet, cello and piano (1998)
Trio, violin, cello and piano (1998)
Stops (The Road, Part 4), piano (1998) ["The Road, Part 4"]
Main Drag, any 9 players (1999)
Cradle Rock, flute, soprano sax, tenor sax, bar. sax, flügelhorn, trombone, guitar, double bass/bass guitar & piano (1999)
A Few Knocks (The Road, Part 5), piano (1999) ["The Road, Part 5"]
Travelling with Children (The Road, Part 6), piano (1999) ["The Road, Part 6"]
Final Preparations (The Road, Part 7), piano (1999-2002) ["The Road, Part 7"]
Pocket Symphony, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano and percussion (2000)
The Big Day Arrives (The Road, Part 8), piano (2002-03) ["The Road, Part 8"]
96 (canon), 5 players (2003)
Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier, piano (2003)
Cadenza, piano (2003)
Dust, piano (2003)
WORKS BY GENRE Rzewski Links ~ ~ ~ Rzewski on Rzewski ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
The Persians – Les Perses – Die Perser, music theatre work (1985)
Chains (12 TV operas), voice and 6 players (1986)
The Triumph of Death, staged oratorio (1987-88) [text: Peter Weiss]
Orchestra
Nature Morte, small orchestra (1964)
Scratch Symphony, orchestra (1997)
Movable Types, orchestra (1999)
Band
Satyrica, guitar, double bass, piano, synthesizer, vibraphone, percussion and band (1983)
Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
A Long Time Man, piano and orchestra (1979)
Satyrica, guitar, double bass, piano, synthesizer, vibraphone, percussion and band (1983)
Una Breve Storia d'Estate, 3 flutes and orchestra (1983)
Choral
Requiem, Part 1, speaker, male chorus, Jew's harp, pf, org/elec. simulation, tubular bells, bull-roarer, woodblock, radio (1963-67)
Struggle Song, chorus (1973) [arr. of vocal work by Gregory Rose]
Le silence des Espaces Infinis, female chorus, any player, 7 orchestral groups and tape (1980)
Stop the War!, chorus (1995)
Stop the Testing!, chorus (1995)
Chamber
Speculum Dianae, any 8 improvisational players (1964)
Selfportrait, any player (1964)
Prose Pieces, improvisational ensemble (1967-68)
Les Moutons de Panurge, any number of melody instruments (1968)
Last Judgment, trombone (or any number of unison trombones) (1969)
Second Structure, improvisational ensemble (1972)
Song and Dance, flute, bass clarinet, double bass and vibraphone (1976)
Thirteen Instrumental Studies, variable ensemble (1972-77)
Moonrise with Memories, bass trombone and chamber ensemble (any 6 soprano-range instruments) (1978)
Three Pieces, soprano saxophone, trombone and piano (1979)
Wails, bass clarinet (+ sopranino saxophone), piano and 2 percussionists (1984)
Spots, any 4 players (1986)
The Lost Melody, clarinet, piano and percussion (2 players) (1989)
Roses, flute, clarinet, trumpet, tuba, violin, cello, accordion and percussion (1989)
Aerial Tarts, flute, clarinet/saxophone, violin, cello, piano and percussion (2 players) (1990)
Whangdoodles, hammer dulcimer (+ mallet instruments ad libitum), violin and piano (1990)
Holes, any 4-8 players (1993)
Crusoe, any 4-12 players (1993)
Histories, 4 saxophones (1993)
Whimwhams, marimba and string quartet (1993)
Family Scenes, flute, 3 saxophones, horn, 3 trumpets, 2 trombones, bass trombone, double bass/bass guitar & piano (1995)
When the Wind Blows, fl, soprano sax, tenor sax, bar. sax, flügelhorn, trombone, gtr, double bass/bass guitar & piano (1996)
Spiritus, 4 recorders and percussion (1997)
ForHanns, flute, clarinet, cello and piano (1998)
Trio, violin, cello and piano (1998)
Main Drag, any 9 players (1999)
Cradle Rock, flute, soprano sax, tenor sax, bar. sax, flügelhorn, trombone, guitar, double bass/bass guitar & piano (1999)
Pocket Symphony, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano and percussion (2000)
96 (canon), 5 players (2003)
Indeterminate/Variable Ensembles
Speculum Dianae, any 8 improvisational players (1964)
Selfportrait, any player (1964)
Prose Pieces, improvisational ensemble (1967-68)
Les Moutons de Panurge, any number of melody instruments (1968)
Coming Together, speaker and variable ensemble (1971)
Attica, speaker and variable ensemble (1972)
Second Structure, improvisational ensemble (1972)
Struggle Song, voice and variable ensemble (1973) [also arr. for chorus by Gregory Rose]
Thirteen Instrumental Studies, variable ensemble (1972-77)
Moonrise with Memories, bass trombone and chamber ensemble (any 6 soprano-range instruments) (1978)
The Price of Oil, 2 voices/vocal ensembles, 8 amplified pipe ensembles and any 2 similar ensembles (1980)
Snacks, voice, chorus ad libitum and any ensemble ad libitum (1981)
Force, 2 speakers, any 1-2 wind instruments, any 1-2 plucked instruments, 1-2 noisemakers and weigher ad libitum (1985)
Spots, any 4 players (1986)
The Waves, speaker and variable ensemble (1988)
Tinkleberries (collection of ditties), voice and any number of players (1980-90)
Holes, any 4-8 players (1993)
Crusoe, any 4-12 players (1993)
Main Drag, any 9 players (1999)
96 (canon), 5 players (2003)
Percussion
Wails, bass clarinet (+ sopranino saxophone), piano and 2 percussionists (1984)
Lost and Found, percussion (player also speaks) (1985)
To the Earth, percussion (player also speaks) (1985)
Roses, flute, clarinet, trumpet, tuba, violin, cello, accordion and percussion (1989)
Aerial Tarts, flute, clarinet/saxophone, violin, cello, piano and percussion (2 players) (1990)
Whangdoodles, hammer dulcimer (+ mallet instruments ad libitum), violin and piano (1990)
Whimwhams, marimba and string quartet (1993)
Spiritus, 4 recorders and percussion (1997)
Pocket Symphony, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano and percussion (2000)
Solo Instrument
Selfportrait, any player (1964)
Last Judgment, trombone (or any number of unison trombones) (1969)
Aria, flute (1981)
Pennywhistlers, recorder (1981)
Lost and Found, percussion (player also speaks) (1985)
To the Earth, percussion (player also speaks) (1985)
Don't Have it Today, double bass (player also speaks) (1986)
Shtick, clarinet/soprano saxophone (1990)
Knight, cello (1992)
Piano/Harpsichord
Chain of Thought, piano (1953)
Tabakrauch, piano (1954)
Preludes, piano (1957)
Poem, piano (1958)
Introduction and Sonata, 2 pianos (1959)
Study 2 (Dreams), piano (1961)
Falling Music, piano (1971 (also version for amplified piano, tape, 1971)
No Place to Go but around, piano (1974)
36 Variations on 'The People United Will Never Be Defeated!', piano (1975)
Four Pieces, piano (1977)
Squares, piano (1978)
North American Ballads, piano (1978-79) [each of its four sections may be performed separately]
- Dreadful Memories
- Which Side are You on?
- Down by the Riverside
- Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues [also version of Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues for 2 pianos, 1980]
The Housewife's Lament, harpsichord (1980)
A Machine, 2 pianos (1984)
Eggs, piano (1986)
Steptangle, piano (1986)
The Turtle and the Crane, piano (1988)
Mayn Yingele, piano (1988)
Fantasy, piano (1989)
Bumps, piano (1990)
Ludes, piano (1990-91)
Sonata, piano (1991)
De Profundis, piano (1991-92)
Andante con Moto, piano (1992)
A Life, piano (1992)
Night Crossing with Fisherman, 2 pianos (1994)
Fougues, piano (1994)
Turns (The Road, Part 1), piano (1995) ["The Road, Part 1"]
Tracks (The Road, Part 2), piano (1996) ["The Road, Part 2"]
Tramps (The Road, Part 3), piano (1997) ["The Road, Part 3"]
Stops (The Road, Part 4), piano (1998) ["The Road, Part 4"]
A Few Knocks (The Road, Part 5), piano (1999) ["The Road, Part 5"]
Travelling with Children (The Road, Part 6), piano (1999) ["The Road, Part 6"]
Final Preparations (The Road, Part 7), piano (1999-2002) ["The Road, Part 7"]
The Big Day Arrives (The Road, Part 8), piano (2002-03) ["The Road, Part 8"]
Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier, piano (2003)
Cadenza, piano (2003)
Dust, piano (2003)
Vocal
Jefferson, voice and piano (1970) [text: Thomas Jefferson]
Freud, voice (1970)
Coming Together, speaker and variable ensemble (1971)
Attica, speaker and variable ensemble (1972)
Struggle Song, voice and variable ensemble (1973) [also arr. for chorus by Gregory Rose]
The Price of Oil, 2 voices/vocal ensembles, 8 amplified pipe ensembles and any 2 similar ensembles (1980)
Snacks, voice, chorus ad libitum and any ensemble ad libitum (1981)
Antigone-Legend, voice and piano (1982) [text: Bertolt Brecht; translated by Judith Malina]
Songs, voice and piano (1973-83)
Mayakovsky, speaker, piano and string quartet (1984)
Mary's Dream, soprano, contrabass clarinet, cello, piano and percussion (1984)
Force, 2 speakers, any 1-2 wind instruments, any 1-2 plucked instruments, 1-2 noisemakers and weigher ad libitum (1985)
The Waves, speaker and variable ensemble (1988)
Tinkleberries (collection of ditties), voice and any number of players (1980-90)
The Burghers of Rostock, voice and piano (1992)
Snippets, speaker and piano (1994)
Logique, voice, flute, cello and piano (1997) [text: Paul Verlaine]
Incidental/Film/TV
Chains (12 TV operas), voice and 6 players (1986)
Electronic
Zoologischer Garten, tape (1965)
RZEWSKI LINKS Works by Genre ~ ~ ~ Rzewski on Rzewski ~ top of page ~
Composer/Pianist Frederic Rzewski - A Conversation with Bruce Duffie (Bruce Duffie, kcstudio.com)
Dialectic Form in Frederic Rzewski's "The People United Will Never Be Defeated!" (James O'Callaghan, sfu.ca)
Frederic Rzewski at EMPAC (Larry Wallach, The Berkshire Review)
Frederic Rzewski Interview (Daniel Varela, Perfect Sound Forever, furious.com)
Frederic Rzewski Interview (Ivan Hewett, The Telegraph)
Frederic Rzewski Visits America (NewMusicBox)
Fredric Rzewski’s The People United Will Never Be Defeated (David Adelaide, World Socalist Website)
Interview with Frederic Rzewski (Joan Arnau Pàmies, sonograma.org)
Maverick With a Message of Solidarity (Matthew Gurewitsch, The New York Times)
Not Gift Wrapped (The Village Voice)
"A Question of Language": Frederic Rzewski in Conversation about Cornelius Cardew (Daniel Varela, JEMS)
Rzewski Blazes a Unique Piano Path (Richard Dyer, Boston Globe)
Rzewski is Given His Due - Composer's Unique Oeuvre Collected in Set (Joshua Kosman, SFGate)
Spotlight on Frederic Rzewski with Lisa Moore, piano (Darcy James Argues Secret Society)
Understanding Rzewski’s North American Ballads: From the Composer to the Work (Sujin Kim, OhioLINK ETD)
The Use of Variation Form in Frederic Rzewski's the People United Will Never Be Defeated! (Keane Southard)
Books
Nonsequiturs:Writings and Lectures on Improvisation, Composition, and Interpretation 1965–1994 (F. Rzewski, MusikTexte)
Composer website (at The Living Composer Project) . . . contact Frederic Rzewski: here
Rzewski @ Wikipedia
Rzewski @ American Composers Orchestra
Rzewski @ American Music Center
Rzewski @ Answers.com
Rzewski @ Art + Culture
Rzewski @ Art of the States
Rzewski @ aworks
Rzewski @ Bowling Green State University Home
Rzewski @ Carnegie Hall Commissions
Rzewski @ Classical Archives
Rzewski @ Classical Composers Database
Rzewski @ Classical Net
Rzewski @ ClassicsToday
Rzewski @ composition:today
Rzewski @ The Ensemble Sospeso
Rzewski @ Facebook
Rzewski @ The Guardian also here
Rzewski @ The Harvard Crimson
Rzewski @ The Incessant Noise
Rzewski @ InstantEncore
Rzewski @ Kalvos & Damian
Rzewski @ Kick to Kill
Rzewski @ The Living Composer Project
Rzewski @ MSN Music
Rzewski @ Music of the 21st Century/DePauw University
Rzewski @ MusicWeb International
Rzewski @ Musical Pointers also here
Rzewski @ musicianguide.com
Rzewski @ MySpaceMusic
Rzewski @ Naxos
Rzewski @ New Albion Records
Rzewski @ New World Records
Rzewski @ The New York Times
Rzewski @ Nonesuch Records
Rzewski @ Ostrava Center for New Music
Rzewski @ Other Minds
Rzewski @ REC Music Foundation /The Lied and Art Song Texts Page
Rzewski @ Piero Scaruffi
Rzewski @ SoundUnwound
Rzewski @ Warsaw Autumn
Rzewski @ Williams Symphonic Winds and Opus Zero Band
Publisher
Rzewski @ Composer (F. Rzewski)
Rzewski @ Adesso
Rzewski @ Août-Septembre
Rzewski @ Black Swan Classic Jazz Band
Rzewski @ Editions temv
Rzewski @ E.G. Freifeld
Rzewski @ Frog Peak Music
Rzewski @ Ricordi
Rzewski @ Werner Icking Music Archive
Rzewski @ Zen-On Music
Streaming Audio
Rzewski @ alt-classical.com
Rzewski @ Art of the States
Rzewski @ Classical Archives
Rzewski @ Internet Archive/Speaking of Music - Interview with Charles Amirkhanian
Rzewski @ last.fm
Rzewski @ MySpaceMusic
Rzewski @ Naxos Blog/Rzewski’s "The People United Will Never be Defeated", with pianist Ralph van Raat (Podcast)
Rzewski @ radiOM.org
Rzewski @ Rhapsody
Rzewski @ Werner Icking Music Archive
Recordings
Rzewski @ ArkivMusic
Rzewski @ ClassicsOnline
Rzewski @ Discogs
Rzewski @ New Albion Records
Video
Rzewski @ YouTube
Rzewski @ Google Video
Rzewski @ Vimeo
Rzewski @ NewMusicBox/Rzewski Visits America
~ top of page ~
Rzewski on Rzewski: Rzewski Visits America/NewMusic/Box (VIDEO)
Composers
Speak on the Web at Pytheas~ click on composer picture to listen ~
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