Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues

[Bud Struggle]

Here's an interesting piano piece by American composer Frederic Rzewski who writes classical songs all with a decidedly left liberal/Communistic bent. This ballad is based on the overbearing noise of the cotton mills in the industrial revolution and the Blues of the people that work in those mills. "Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues" is the fourth of Rzewski's North American Ballads.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OATfUyCgR7E&feature=related

His most famous work is "The People United Will Never Be Defeated" which was based on an anthem of the Chilean revolution.

It's a very moving piece. Though you guys might be interested.

[BurnTheOliveTree]

It's pretty unorthodox stuff, isn't it? Jarring.

-Alex

[Bud Struggle]

Factories are jarring. Machines make regular syncopated sounds that are loud and constant. What Rzewski does so well is he can mimic the sounds on another machine--the piano. A clever idea, but what is really quite brilliant about the piece is that he adds the human element--the blues of the workers rising above the din of the machines. And that's the interesting thing about the blues--it uses the exacting inhumanity of the machines as a backdrop for the flight of the human spirit from it's oppression--it is non regulated, non fixated, using the machinery to make song just as the machinery is using the worker to make cotton.

What the song is saying is that even through the worse oppression of mechanized world the human spirit overcomes.

[BurnTheOliveTree]

Yeah, I got that. The prettiest bit was while he was doing all the discordant machine-noise and then you had the blues melody over on the other side of the piano. :)

I think it labours the point somewhat though, it goes on a long time with just the jarring bit and no respite.

Still, I am a bit of a phillistine with clasical music. Gimme literature, any day!

So this is a bit odd, you liking a lefty-bent piece but being an OIer. How come?

-Alex

[Bud Struggle]

So this is a bit odd, you liking a lefty-bent piece but being an OIer. How come?-Alex

Thoughtful music is thoughtful music. As a Capitalist I certainly understand the plight of the worker in modern society. I lived it. My father worked in a rubber mill all his life and made a few dollars over no money at all for his trouble. I've seen what it's like when the man comes to your door and wants ten dollars and you only have eight. I worked for the Catholic Worker in the Bowery feeding the bums and forgotten and then I made a pile of money. But it doesn't mean that I forgot who I am.

Until I get kicked out (or worse!:D) I would like to post interesting pieces of political art of one variety or another on occasion and discuss what it means with you guys.

[BurnTheOliveTree]

You understand the plight of the worker but don't have any qualms in continuing his misery as a capitalist? I applaud your ability to compartmentalize mate. :confused:



Thoughtful music is thoughtful music.


Guess. I can't imagine enjoying thoughtful music from the other side of the fence, though. I always hated Flight Of The Valkyries...

Mmm, good idea. I suppose art is one of the few places that we can connect in real terms, being so at odds ideologically.

-Alex

[RNK]

That's a huge leap, from left-liberal to communist.