Notes and Editorial Reviews
"Crawford Seeger's life reflects both the positive and the negative charges of a woman's life in music. There were burdens of raising a large family; the hovering presence of her husband, the composer Charles Seeger; the Depression; social activism (one of the song settings concerns the Sacco-Vanzetti case); and with it all, a tough-minded modernism and a muscular personality. All the pieces on this CD derive from the years 1924 to 1932, before marriage and its concerns more or less silenced Ms. Seeger's work until the 1950's. (She died in 1953.)
The early piano preludes (here Nos. 1 and 9) bear the fluidity and sensuousness of Scriabin, as Cheryl Seltzer's booklet note suggests. Pieces like the Suite for Five Wind Instruments have an
Read more
assertive tang and an increasing distance from tonality that put them closer to the industrial-strength harmonic revolutions of the times. To this way of thinking also belongs the Violin Sonata, an original and confident work.
Exercises in spartan combinations include two "Diaphonic Suites," for solo flute and for bassoon and cello. The three Carl Sandburg songs ride on a complex and dense instrumental accompaniment."
- Bernard Holland, NEW YORK TIMES
Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Suite for 5 Wind Instruments and Piano by Ruth Crawford Seeger
Performer:
Daniel Grabois (French Horn),
Marsha Heller (Oboe),
John Craig Barker (Clarinet),
Cheryl Seltzer (Piano),
Jayn Rosenfeld (Flute),
Cynde Iverson (Bassoon)
Conductor:
Joel Sachs
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Continuum
Period: 20th Century
Length: 9 Minutes 45 Secs.
Notes: Academy of Arts & Letters, New York City (01/1991); Academy of Arts & Letters, New York City (10/1992)
2.
Sonata for Violin and Piano by Ruth Crawford Seeger
Performer:
Cheryl Seltzer (Piano),
Mia Wu (Violin)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1926; USA
Length: 14 Minutes 21 Secs.
Notes: Academy of Arts & Letters, New York City (01/1991); Academy of Arts & Letters, New York City (10/1992)
3.
Ricercari (2) by Ruth Crawford Seeger
Performer:
Joel Sachs (Piano),
Nan Hughes (Mezzo Soprano)
Period: 20th Century
Length: 8 Minutes 16 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: Academy of Arts & Letters, New York City (01/1991); Academy of Arts & Letters, New York City (10/1992)
4.
Prelude no 1 "Andante" by Ruth Crawford Seeger
Performer:
Cheryl Seltzer (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Length: 1 Minutes 14 Secs.
Notes: Academy of Arts & Letters, New York City (01/1991); Academy of Arts & Letters, New York City (10/1992)
5.
Prelude no 9 "Tranquillo" by Ruth Crawford Seeger
Performer:
Cheryl Seltzer (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Length: 2 Minutes 54 Secs.
Notes: Academy of Arts & Letters, New York City (01/1991); Academy of Arts & Letters, New York City (10/1992)
6.
Study in Mixed Accents by Ruth Crawford Seeger
Performer:
Cheryl Seltzer (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1930; USA
Length: 1 Minutes 31 Secs.
Notes: Academy of Arts & Letters, New York City (01/1991); Academy of Arts & Letters, New York City (10/1992)
7.
Diaphonic Suite no 1 by Ruth Crawford Seeger
Performer:
Jayn Rosenfeld (Flute)
Period: 20th Century
Length: 5 Minutes 6 Secs.
Notes: Academy of Arts & Letters, New York City (01/1991); Academy of Arts & Letters, New York City (10/1992)
8.
Diaphonic Suite no 2 by Ruth Crawford Seeger
Performer:
Maria Kitsopoulos (Cello),
Susan Heinemann (Bassoon)
Period: 20th Century
Length: 4 Minutes 17 Secs.
Notes: Academy of Arts & Letters, New York City (01/1991); Academy of Arts & Letters, New York City (10/1992)
9.
Songs (3) by Ruth Crawford Seeger
Performer:
Victor Kioulaphides (Double Bass),
Maria Kitsopoulos (Cello),
Nan Hughes (Mezzo Soprano),
Marsha Heller (Oboe),
Erik Charlston (Percussion),
Cheryl Seltzer (Piano),
Nathan Williams (Clarinet),
Kristin Wolfe-Jensen (Bassoon),
David J. Bursack (Viola),
Rachel Evans (Viola),
Mari Kimura (Violin),
Maria Schleuning (Violin),
Mark Steinberg (Violin),
Renée Jolles (Violin),
Benjamin Herrington (Trombone),
Richard Kelley (Trumpet),
Daniel Grabois (French Horn)
Conductor:
Joel Sachs
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Continuum
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1930-1932; USA
Length: 9 Minutes 5 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: Academy of Arts & Letters, New York City (01/1991); Academy of Arts & Letters, New York City (10/1992)
Composition written: USA (1930 - 1933).
Sound Samples
Suite for Wind Quintet and Piano: I. Adagio religioso / Giocoso - Allegro non troppo
Suite for Wind Quintet and Piano: II. Andante tristo
Suite for Wind Quintet and Piano: III. Allegro con brio
Violin Sonata: I. Vibrante, agitato
Violin Sonata: II. Buoyant
Violin Sonata: III. Mistico, intenso; Allegro
2 Ricercari: Sacco, Vanzetti
2 Ricercari: Chinaman, Laundryman
Prelude No. 9: Tranquillo
Diaphonic Suite No. 3 for Flute: I. Scherzando
Diaphonic Suite No. 3 for Flute: II. Andante
Diaphonic Suite No. 3 for Flute: III. Allegro
Diaphonic Suite No. 3 for Flute: IV. Moderato, ritmico
Diaphonic Suite No. 2 for Bassoon and Cello: I. Freely
Diaphonic Suite No. 2 for Bassoon and Cello: II. Andante cantando
Diaphonic Suite No. 2 for Bassoon and Cello: III. Con brio
3 Songs: Prayers of Steel
Customer Reviews
Be the first to review this title
Review This Title
