The keyboard music of Frederic Anthony Rzewski with special emphasis on the

Abstract

"The Keyboard Music of Frederic Anthony Rzewski With Special Emphasis on the North American Ballads" focuses on the piano works by Frederic Anthony Rzewski. Opening chapters are devoted to Rzewski's life and his activities, particularly his special political and social associations, and those musicians, composers and performers who have been an important part of his life, and to the development of his music. There is a special chapter on the piano variations The People United Will Never Be Defeated, as this piece brought to fruition many of Rzewski's compositional techniques, particularly those used in the North American Ballads. As Rzewski suggested that this author investigate the folk music of North America, a chapter centered on those aspects of folk music used in the Ballads is also contained herein. The paper is focused on an in-depth analysis of the North American Ballads with a fully-annotated score. A chapter on some of Rzewski's other important piano pieces and a complete works list is also included.