Composer

:

Frederic Rzewski

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Theme & Variations

Compose Date

:

1975

Average_duration

:

58:03

"The People United Will Never Be Defeated" is a set of 36 variations for solo piano composed by Frederic Rzewski in 1975. The piece was premiered by Rzewski himself on November 4, 1976, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The composition is based on the Chilean song "El pueblo unido jamás será vencido" (The people united will never be defeated), which became an anthem for the Popular Unity government of Salvador Allende in Chile. The song was written by Sergio Ortega and Quilapayún, a Chilean folk group, in 1973. The variations are divided into six groups of six variations each, with each group representing a different musical style or technique. The first group is based on the original song, while the subsequent groups explore techniques such as canon, inversion, retrograde, and improvisation. The variations are characterized by their virtuosic and challenging nature, with Rzewski incorporating complex rhythms, extended techniques, and unconventional notation. The piece also includes political and social commentary, with Rzewski incorporating quotes from other revolutionary songs and speeches throughout the variations. Overall, "The People United Will Never Be Defeated" is a powerful and thought-provoking work that showcases Rzewski's skill as a composer and pianist, as well as his commitment to social justice and political activism.

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