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American Classics - A Continuum Portrait Vol 6 - Seeger
Naxos

American Classics - A Continuum Portrait Vol 6 - Seeger

$19.99

Details

Composer
SEEGER
Artist
Continuum
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Jul 19, 2005
Catalog #
8559197
UPC
636943919729

About

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 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

Tracklist 21 tracks

  1. 1 I. Adagio religioso / Giocoso - Allegro non troppo 03:57
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Adagio religioso / Giocoso - Allegro non troppo
    Duration
    03:57
    Composer
    Ruth Crawford Seeger
  2. 2 II. Andante tristo 02:52
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Andante tristo
    Duration
    02:52
    Composer
    Ruth Crawford Seeger
  3. 3 III. Allegro con brio 02:56
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Allegro con brio
    Duration
    02:56
    Composer
    Ruth Crawford Seeger
  4. 4 I. Vibrante, agitato 05:09
    Track
    4
    Title
    I. Vibrante, agitato
    Duration
    05:09
    Composer
    Ruth Crawford Seeger
  5. 5 II. Buoyant 03:14
    Track
    5
    Title
    II. Buoyant
    Duration
    03:14
    Composer
    Ruth Crawford Seeger
  6. 6 III. Mistico, intenso; Allegro 05:58
    Track
    6
    Title
    III. Mistico, intenso; Allegro
    Duration
    05:58
    Composer
    Ruth Crawford Seeger
  7. 7 Sacco, Vanzetti 05:05
    Track
    7
    Title
    Sacco, Vanzetti
    Duration
    05:05
    Composer
    Ruth Crawford Seeger
  8. 8 Chinaman, Laundryman 03:11
    Track
    8
    Title
    Chinaman, Laundryman
    Duration
    03:11
    Composer
    Ruth Crawford Seeger
  9. 9 Prelude No. 1: Andante 01:14
    Track
    9
    Title
    Prelude No. 1: Andante
    Duration
    01:14
    Composer
    Ruth Crawford Seeger
  10. 10 Prelude No. 9: Tranquillo 02:54
    Track
    10
    Title
    Prelude No. 9: Tranquillo
    Duration
    02:54
    Composer
    Ruth Crawford Seeger
  11. 11 Study in Mixed Accents 01:31
    Track
    11
    Title
    Study in Mixed Accents
    Duration
    01:31
    Composer
    Ruth Crawford Seeger
  12. 12 I. Scherzando 00:48
    Track
    12
    Title
    I. Scherzando
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Ruth Crawford Seeger
  13. 13 II. Andante 02:20
    Track
    13
    Title
    II. Andante
    Duration
    02:20
    Composer
    Ruth Crawford Seeger
  14. 14 III. Allegro 01:06
    Track
    14
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    01:06
    Composer
    Ruth Crawford Seeger
  15. 15 IV. Moderato, ritmico 00:51
    Track
    15
    Title
    IV. Moderato, ritmico
    Duration
    00:51
    Composer
    Ruth Crawford Seeger
  16. 16 I. Freely 01:25
    Track
    16
    Title
    I. Freely
    Duration
    01:25
    Composer
    Ruth Crawford Seeger
  17. 17 II. Andante cantando 01:50
    Track
    17
    Title
    II. Andante cantando
    Duration
    01:50
    Composer
    Ruth Crawford Seeger
  18. 18 III. Con brio 01:03
    Track
    18
    Title
    III. Con brio
    Duration
    01:03
    Composer
    Ruth Crawford Seeger
  19. 19 Rat Riddles 03:16
    Track
    19
    Title
    Rat Riddles
    Duration
    03:16
    Composer
    Ruth Crawford Seeger
  20. 20 Prayers of Steel 01:54
    Track
    20
    Title
    Prayers of Steel
    Duration
    01:54
    Composer
    Ruth Crawford Seeger
  21. 21 In Tall Grass 03:54
    Track
    21
    Title
    In Tall Grass
    Duration
    03:54
    Composer
    Ruth Crawford Seeger