Following the success of Vanguard’s debut recording of Frederic Rzewski’s “The People United Will Never Be Defeated!”, label owner Seymour Solomon invited the composer to play two of his newest works, Four Pieces for Piano and “Which Side Are You On?” It would be Vanguard’s first digitally recorded release. Despite the excellent critical reception on LP, Vanguard did not release it on CD in the United States. In 1994, after Rzewski had resettled in Belgium and become an established performer in the “low countries”, , its Dutch affiliate released the recording on CD, where it remained available until the licensing deal expired. It immediately became a collector’s item among pianophiles and new/minimalist music fans.
Rzewski’s death in Italy on June 26, 2021 came as a shock to his many colleagues and fans, following a long career as a pedagogue, recitalist, and lecturer.
This is the first release of Rzewski’s Four Pieces and “Which Side Are You On?” for streaming and download. It includes updated original liner notes on services that support notes.
Rzewski: Four Pieces, Which Side Are You On?
