Frederic Rzewski (b. 1938)
The People United Will Never Be Defeated
Stephen Drury, piano
39 tracks; 58 minutes
Let me just say right off the bat, this is a difficult work, both aurally and intellectually. Rzewski is as eccentric and massive a piano composer as there ever was. However, if you can wrap your head around its incredible structural arc, you're in for a world of treats. This is without a doubt one of the most mindblowing set of variations this side of the Diabelli's. From Wikipedia:
"In general, the variations are short, and build up to climaxes of considerable force. The 36 variations, following the 36 bars of the tune, are in six groups of six. The pianist, in addition to needing a virtuoso technique, is required to whistle, slam the piano lid, and catch the after-vibrations of a loud attack as harmonics: all of these are "extended" techniques in 20th-century piano writing. Much of the work uses the language of 19th-century romanticism, but mixes this language with pandiatonic tonality, modal writing, and even serial techniques."
Sounds amazing, huh? I really cannot recommend this recording enough, and it has as an added bonus the original Quilapayún political protest song that inspired the variations. Truly amazing stuff.
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