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UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI Date:___________________ I, _________________________________________________________, hereby submit this work as part of the requirements for the degree of: in: It is entitled: This work and its defense approved by: Chair: _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ Notated Extemporization: The Structural Ramifications of Improvisatory Composing in Part VIII of Frederic Rzewski’s The Road A document submitted to the Division of Research and Advanced Studies of the University of Cincinnati In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF MUSICAL ARTS in the Division of Keyboard Studies of the College-Conservatory of Music By Joseph Armond Ferretti B.M., University of Colorado in Boulder, 1998 M.M., University of Cincinnati, 2000 Committee Chair: Dr. Joel Hoffman Abstract “Notated Extemporization: The Structural Ramifications of Improvisatory Composing in Part VIII of Frederic Rzewski’s The Road” explores musical elements that result from Frederic Rzewski’s improvisational approach to composition. The Road is a mammoth work in eight Parts, each containing eight Miles. This document focuses on Part VIII, “The Big Day Arrives,” which also happens to be the largest of the Parts. Rzewski presets structural frameworks for The Road on several levels. In addition to the eight-by-eight grid of Parts and Miles, there are eight labeled sections within each Mile and, in many cases, eight subsections within each section. Having established a framework in terms of time, sectional layout, or pattern, Rzewski gives free reign to his imagination in terms of tonality, harmony, rhythm, motive, figuration, and sound production. This document focuses on elements that result from an improvisatory flow of creativity. Such elements include a variety of local structures, eclectic presentations of material, an exploratory and colorful use of harmony, and a practical and somewhat free approach to motivic unity and cyclicality. A great deal of scholarship on the output of Rzewski has focused on eclecticism and the incorporation of improvisation through the use of cadenzas. The aim of this document is to illustrate the manner in which Rzewski’s ability to improvise influences that which he composes out. Furthermore, it will introduce a very recently completed body of music of extraordinary dimensions. The paper will begin by introducing Rzewski and his music. An ensuing survey of his piano works finishes with an overview of The Road and its conception. Following a summary of Part VIII, the paper will explore attributes that suggest improvisational composing in each Mile ii of Part VIII. A concluding chapter will outline salient characteristics that are universal to the Miles of Part VIII. iii Acknowledgements I would like to thank my advisor and committee chair Joel Hoffman for his knowledge, insight, and especially for encouraging me to forge new territory in my research on the music of Frederic Rzewski. I would also like to thank Frederic Rzewski himself for generously taking his time to talk about his music, and for allowing me use his manuscript score in the examples of this document. I could not have accomplished this without the loving and tireless support of my wife, Elaine Lau. I want to also acknowledge my parents, Eugene and Donna Ferretti, for supporting my every move and encouraging me all the way through. Finally, I thank the other members of my reading committee for their time and input: Allen Otte, and Eugene and Elizabeth Pridonoff, who also helped me to find my individual musical and pianistic voice. iv Table of Contents Abstract.......................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................... iv List of Examples and Illustrations.............................................................................................. vi Introduction................................................................................................................................... 1 The Road........................................................................................................................................ 3 Part VIII, The Big Day Arrives..................................................................................................... 6 Mile 57, “Leaving”........................................................................................................................ 7 Mile 58, “Marriage”.................................................................................................................... 17 Mile 59, “Many Loves”............................................................................................................... 29 Mile 60, “Uphill” ......................................................................................................................... 39 Mile 61, “Stop the war!”............................................................................................................. 48 Mile 62, “The Babble” ................................................................................................................ 53 Mile 63, “Nowhere” .................................................................................................................... 58 Mile 64, “Leaks and plugs”........................................................................................................ 64 Conclusions.................................................................................................................................. 74 Bibliography ................................................................................................................................ 77 v List of Examples and Illustrations Ex. 1a, Mile 57, mm.1-2...............................................................................................................................................8 Ex. 1b, Mile 57, mm. 18-19..........................................................................................................................................9 Ex. 2a, Mile 57, m.1 of section B, Dance-like figure 1...............................................................................................9 Ex. 2b, Mile 57, m.4 of section B, dance-like figure 2. ..............................................................................................9 Ex.2c, Mile 57, m.9-10 of section B, dance-like figure 3. ........................................................................................10 Ex. 3a, Mile 57, mm. 1-4 of section C.......................................................................................................................10 Ex. 3b, Mile 57, mm. 29-36 of section C...................................................................................................................11 Ex. 4a, Mile 57, mm. 1-7............................................................................................................................................12 Ex. 4c, Mile 57, mm. 18-21. .......................................................................................................................................13 Ex. 4d, Mile 57, mm. 7-17 of section C.....................................................................................................................14 Ex. 4e, Mile 57, mm. 18-19 of section C. ..................................................................................................................14 Ex. 5a, Mile 57, mm. 1-9 of section B. ......................................................................................................................15 Ex. 6a, Mile 57, mm. 1-12 of section G.....................................................................................................................16 Ex. 6b, Mile 57, m. 1 of section H .............................................................................................................................16 Ex. 6c, Mile 57, mm. 14-15 of section H...................................................................................................................17 Ex. 6d, Mile 57, mm. 19 of section H........................................................................................................................17 Ex. 7a, Mile 58, the opening measures. ....................................................................................................................19 Ex. 7b, Mile 58, mm.5-6.............................................................................................................................................19 Ex. 8b, Mile 58, mm. 19-20 of section B...................................................................................................................20 Ex. 8c, Mile 58, mm. 23-34 of section B. ..................................................................................................................21 Ex. 9a, Mile 58, mm. 14-17 of section B ...................................................................................................................21 Ex. 9b, Mile 58, mm. 34 of section B. .......................................................................................................................22 Ex. 9c, Mile 58, mm. 34-40 of section B ...................................................................................................................22