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The Dissonances of Life

Kate Molleson sees how Crawford is finally writing the 'trees of sound and colour' she dreamt of, creating her masterpieces. But life during the Great Depression is far from easy.

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 third episode, we see how Crawford is finally writing the 'trees of sound and colour' she dreamt of, creating her masterpieces. But life during the Great Depression is far from easy.

Nineteen American Folk Songs for Piano
"The Three Ravens"
"Frog Went A-Courtin"
Virginia Eskin, piano

Three Chants for Female Chorus
New London Chamber Choir
James Wood, director

String Quartet 1931
Pacifica Quartet

Béla Bartók:
Piano Concerto No 2 in G major, Sz. 95, BB 101
III. Allegro molto
Zoltán Kocsis, piano
Budapest Festival Orchestra
Iván Fischer, conductor

Diaphonic Suite No. 1 for oboe
I. Scherzando
Christian Hommel, oboe

Trad, arr Ruth Crawford Seeger:
"Lost Gander"
from Animal Folk Songs for Children
Mike Seeger, banjo

Preludes for Piano
Prelude No. 4
Jenny Lin, piano

Two Ricercare to poems by Hsi Tseng Tsiang
I. "Sacco, Vanzetti"
Nan Hughes, mezzo-soprano
Joel Sachs, piano

Peggy Seeger:
How I Long For Peace
Peggy Seeger, voice and piano

Presented by Kate Molleson
Produced by Julien Rosa
A ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Audio Wales & West production for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 3

To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Sounds to play Composer of the Weekâ€

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Traditional American

    The Three Ravens

    Performer: Virginia Eskin. Music Arranger: Ruth Crawford Seeger.
    • ALBANY.
  • Traditional American

    Frog Went a-Courtin'

    Performer: Virginia Eskin. Music Arranger: Ruth Crawford Seeger.
    • ALBANY.
  • Ruth Crawford Seeger

    Three Chants for Female Chorus

    Performer: New London Chamber Choir. Director: James Wood.
    • DG:4499252.
    • DG.
    • 7.
  • Ruth Crawford Seeger

    String Quartet

    Ensemble: Pacifica String Quartet.
    • CEDILLE : CDR-90000092.
    • CEDILLE.
    • 5.
  • Béla Bartók

    Piano Concerto No 2, Sz 95 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Zoltán Kocsis. Performer: Budapest Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Iván Fischer.
    • PHILIPS : 416-837-2.
    • PHILIPS.
    • 3.
  • Ruth Crawford Seeger

    Preludes for piano (No 4, Grave)

    Performer: Jenny Lin.
    • BIS : BISCD-1310.
    • BIS.
    • 18.
  • Ruth Crawford Seeger

    Two Ricercari ( No 1, Sacco, Vanzetti)

    Performer: Joel Sachs. Singer: Nan Hughes.
    • Naxos: 8559197.
    • Naxos.
    • 7.
  • Peggy Seeger

    How I Long For Peace

    Performer: Peggy Seeger.
    • RED GRAPE RECORDS.

Broadcast

  • Wed 12 Mar 2025 16:00

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