Frederic Anthony Rzewski was an American pianist and composer. Rzewski studied at Harvard University and Princeton University under teachers including Roger Sessions and Walter Piston. In 1960, Rzewski moved to Italy and began performing contemporary piano music before co-founding the ensemble Musica Elettronica Viva (1966), which focused on collaborative electronic improvisation. Rzewski is recognized for incorporating political themes into compositions, including the minimalist piece “Coming Together” (1971) and the piano variations “The People United Will Never Be Defeated!” (1975). Discography milestones include the recording Coming Together / Attica / Les Moutons de Panurge (1973) and the box set Rzewski Plays Rzewski: Piano Works, 1975-1999 (2002). Rzewski died in 2021.
