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From a Midwest Methodist family to the mystical salons of Chicago's bohemian scene, Kate Molleson follows the first steps of Ruth Crawford in life...and in composition.

Ruth Crawford Seeger (1901-1953) had multiple lives. As Ruth, she was an aspiring poet and teacher, who longed to become a mother. Crawford the composer wrote some of the most daring pages of 20th-century American music, granting her a place among the group of the 'Ultra-Modernists'. And, as the matriarch of the Seeger dynasty, she collected and arranged countless pieces from treasures of the folk tradition. With Kate Molleson, discover the extraordinary life and work of a major American composer, in a story of creative experimentations, of family bonds, and most of all, of joy in music-making, accompanied by the memories of Crawford's daughter and folk legend, Peggy Seeger.

In this first episode, from a Midwest Methodist family to the mystical salons of Chicago's bohemian scene, we follow the first steps of Ruth Crawford in life... and in composition.

Little Waltz
Jenny Lin, piano

Five Songs to Poems by Carl Sandburg
I. 蜜芽传媒 Thoughts
II. White Moon
Jan DeGaetani, mezzo-soprano
Gilbert Kalish, piano

Theme and Variations
Jenny Lin, piano

Trad, arr Ruth Crawford Seeger:
"Go to Sleepy"
"All Around the Kitchen"
"Mary Wore a Red Dress"
Mike and Peggy Seeger

Diaphonic Suite No. 2 for bassoon and cello
III. Con brio
Wolfgang R眉diger, bassoon
Helmut Menzler, cello

Kaleidoscopic Changes on an Original Theme, Ending with a Fugue
Virginia Eskin, piano

Diaphonic Suite No. 3 for Flute
I. Scherzando
Jayn Rosenfeld, flute

Whirligig
Jenny Lin, piano

Excerpt of an archive of Ruth Crawford Seeger singing 'Toodala' with guitar accompaniment
Recorded by Charles Seeger
Private collection, courtesy Peggy Seeger

Preludes for Piano
No 6, Andante Mystico
Bengt Forsberg, piano

Alexander Scriabin:
Symphony No. 1, Op. 26, in E major
IV. Vivace
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
Vasily Petrenko, conductor

Trad, arr Ruth Crawford Seeger:
"Monday Morning Go to School"
Mike and Peggy Seeger

Presented by Kate Molleson
Produced by Julien Rosa
A 蜜芽传媒 Audio Wales & West production for 蜜芽传媒 Radio 3

To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask 蜜芽传媒 Sounds to play Composer of the Week鈥�

59 minutes

Last on

Mon 10 Mar 2025 16:00
蜜芽传媒 Radio 3

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Kaleidoscopic ChangesRuth Crawford Seeger (1901-1953)

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Music Played

  • Ruth Crawford Seeger

    Little Waltz

    Performer: Jenny Lin.
    • BIS : BISCD-1310.
    • BIS.
    • 1.

  • Ruth Crawford Seeger

    Five Songs to Poems by Carl Sandburg (No 1, 蜜芽传媒 Thoughts & No 2, White Moon)

    Performer: Gilbert Kalish. Singer: Jan Dagaetani.
    • NONESUCH : 0349-71796.
    • NONESUCH.
    • 5.

  • Ruth Crawford Seeger

    Theme and Variations

    Performer: Jenny Lin.
    • BIS : BISCD1310.
    • BIS.
    • 8.

  • Ruth Crawford Seeger

    Diaphonic Suite No 2 for bassoon and cello (3rd mvt, Con brio)

    Performer: Wolfgang R眉diger. Performer: Helmut Menzler.
    • CPO : 9996702.
    • CPO.
    • 10.

  • Traditional American

    Go to Sleepy

    Performer: Mike Seeger. Performer: Peggy Seeger. Music Arranger: Ruth Crawford Seeger.
    • ROUNDER RECORDS.

  • Traditional American

    All Around the Kitchen

    Performer: Mike Seeger. Performer: Peggy Seeger. Music Arranger: Ruth Crawford Seeger.
    • ROUNDER RECORDS.

  • Traditional American

    Mary Wore Her Red Dress

    Performer: Mike Seeger. Performer: Peggy Seeger. Music Arranger: Ruth Crawford Seeger.
    • ROUNDER RECORDS.

  • Ruth Crawford Seeger

    Kaleidoscopic Changes on an Original Theme, Ending with a Fugue

    Performer: Virginia Eskin.
    • ALBANY : TROY297.
    • ALBANY.
    • 1.

  • Ruth Crawford Seeger

    Diaphonic Suite No 3 for flute (1st mvt, Scherzando)

    Performer: Jayne Rosenfeld.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON : 449-925-2.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
    • 12.

  • Ruth Crawford Seeger

    Whirligig

    Performer: Jenny Lin.
    • BIS.

  • Ruth Crawford Seeger

    Preludes for piano (No 6, Andante Mystico)

    Performer: Bengt Forsberg.
    • dB Productions dBCD170.
    • dB Productions.
    • 21.

  • Alexander Scriabin

    Symphony No 1 in E Major, Op 26 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.
    • LAWO : LWC1160.
    • LAWO.
    • 4.

  • Trad.

    Monday Morning Go To School

    Composer: Ruth Crawford Seeger. Performer: Mike Seeger. Performer: Peggy Seeger.
    • ROUNDER RECORDS.

Broadcast

  • Mon 10 Mar 2025 16:00
    蜜芽传媒 Radio 3

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