Politics, Improvisation, and Musicking in Frederic Rzewski's "Which Side Are You On?" from "North American Ballads"

Title: Politics, Improvisation, and Musicking in Frederic Rzewski's "Which Side Are You On?" from "North American Ballads"
Identifier: d_2009_2013:28d8fecf65ed:11269
identifier: 11622
Creator: La Rose, Andrea A.,
Contributor: Joseph N. Straus | Jeffrey Taylor
Date: 2012
Language: English
Publisher: City University of New York.
Subject: Music | dialogue | Florence Reece | improvisation | political music | Rzewski | transcription
Abstract: Discussions of the role of politics in Frederic Rzewski's music generally stop at surface elements: the title of the work, the use of a particular song, and guesses as to what left-leaning audience the piece is directed at. Similarly, discussion of the role of improvisation in Rzewski's work begins and ends simply at the mention of its existence. Using transcription and analysis of improvisations from recordings of "Which Side Are You On?" from North American Ballads combined with ideas about modeling from Christian Asplund, musicking from Christopher Small, dialogue from David Bohm, and Rzewski's own writings about music, I demonstrate how the political manifests at every level of the music, enabling listeners and performers to experience a socio-political situation beyond mere sloganeering, and the essential role improvisation plays in creating that experience.
Type: dissertation
Source: 2009_2013.csv
degree: D.M.A.
Program: Music

Media: Politics, Improvisation, and Musicking in Frederic Rzewski's "Which Side Are You On?" from "North American Ballads"