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A Singing Family

Kate Molleson concludes the exploration of Ruth Crawford Seeger's life story, filled with singing evenings in family, new desires to compose again, and a farewell coming too soon.

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 fifth episode, we conclude the exploration of Ruth Crawford Seeger's life story, filled with singing evenings in family, new desires to compose again, and a farewell coming too soon.

Rissolty, Rossolty
Sch枚nberg Ensemble
Oliver Knussen, director

Piano Sonata
Jenny Lin, piano

American Folk Songs for Children
"Oh, Oh, The Sunshine"
"Toodala"
"Sweet Water Rolling"
"Goodbye, Julie"
"Down Came A Lady"
"Goodbye, Old Paint"
Mike and Peggy Seeger

Suite for Wind Quintet
Sch枚nberg Ensemble
Oliver Knussen, director

Animal Folk Songs for Children
"Mister Rabbit"
"Old Lady Goose"
Pete and Peggy Seeger

American Folk Songs for Christmas
"Stars In The Heaven"
"Oh, Watch The Stars"
"Rise Up, Shepherd, And Follow"
Mike, Peggy and Penny Seeger, and members of their family

Peggy Seeger:
"Everything Changes"
Peggy Seeger, vocals
James Hallawell, piano

Diaphonic Suite No 2 for bassoon and cello (or two cellos)
II. Andante cantando
III. Con brio
Wolfgang R眉diger, bassoon
Helmut Menzler, cello

Presenter: Donald Macleod
Producer: Julien Rosa
Composer of the Week is a 大象传媒 Audio Wales production for 大象传媒 Radio 3

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Release date:

59 minutes

On radio

Fri 14 Mar 2025 16:00

Broadcast

  • Fri 14 Mar 2025 16:00

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