The People United Will Never Be Defeated

Rzewski’s ‘The People United Will Never be Defeated’ is a monumental work of contemporary classical music, considered by many to be his magnum opus. Composed in 1975, the piece is a set of 36 variations on the Chilean protest song ‘¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!’ (The people united will never be defeated!), which became an anthem of resistance against the military dictatorship in Chile at the time. Rzewski’s variations explore a wide range of musical styles and techniques, from classical to jazz, and incorporate elements of improvisation and audience participation, including lid slamming, whistling and improvisation.