Keywords

Frederic Rzewski, political music, gestic music

Abstract

I am intrigued by Frederic Rzewski's ability, in his pieces from the 1960s and 70s, to model socio-political phenomena and to teach specific lessons about these phenomena on both intuitive and intellectual levels to both performers and listeners. Performers in particular will literally experience these socio-political phenomena in the course of performing these pieces. Rzewski seems to have achieved Brecht's ideal of a gestic music without dryness or lack of credibility.

Original Publication Citation

C.T. Asplund. "Frederic Rzewski and Spontaneous Political Music," Perspectives of New Music 33, nos. 1 and 2 (Winter/Summer 1995): 418-441.