Composer: Ruth Crawford Seeger
Works: Little Waltz, Little Lullaby, Jumping the Rope (Playtime), Caprice, Whirligig, Mr. Crow and Miss Wren Go for a Walk, Sonata, Theme and Variations, Five Canons, Kaleidoscopic Changes on an Original Theme, Five Preludes (1924/5), Four Preludes (1927/8), Piano Study in Mixed Accents, We Dance Together, The Adventures of Tom Thumb
Performers: Jenny Lin (piano), Timothy Jones (narrator)
Recording: Recorded at Nybrokajen, Stockholm, Sweden in August 2001
Label: BIS
Ruth Crawford Seeger, a pioneer of American modernism, offers a compelling avenue into the evolution of early 20th-century American composition. Her works, which blend Romantic lyricism with avant-garde exploration, are showcased in this thoughtfully curated collection by pianist Jenny Lin. This recording, while not exhaustive, serves as a profound survey of Crawford Seeger’s piano works, tracing her stylistic development from charming miniatures to strikingly innovative pieces, thus illuminating her significance in the canon of American music.
Jenny Lin’s performance is marked by clarity and conviction, qualities that allow Crawford Seeger’s nuanced textures and inventive rhythms to emerge with vividness. In the opening tracks, particularly in “Little Waltz” and “Little Lullaby,” Lin captures the innocence and playfulness inherent in these early works. The music-box quality of “Little Lullaby” is rendered with a delicate touch, while “Jumping the Rope” exudes a buoyant vitality. Lin’s interpretations maintain a sense of buoyancy without drifting into sentimentality, a balance that is crucial in fully appreciating Crawford Seeger’s intent in these formative pieces.
The Piano Sonata of 1923 introduces a deeper emotional landscape, where an arresting opening gesture of fortissimo octaves foreshadows the composer’s emerging complexity. Lin’s performance is notably restrained, allowing the work’s Romantic undercurrents to unfold organically, which is a testament to her interpretative insight. Subsequent selections, such as “Theme and Variations” and “Five Canons,” reveal Crawford Seeger’s burgeoning confidence and technical prowess. The canons, with their brief yet striking motifs, exemplify her skill in crafting intricate counterpoints, and Lin’s deft handling of these fleeting ideas showcases her technical finesse.
Crawford Seeger’s avant-garde tendencies become more pronounced in the later works, particularly in the “Five Preludes” and “Piano Study in Mixed Accents.” Here, Lin navigates the Schoenbergian and Bartókian influences with a deftness that highlights both the challenges and the exhilarating discoveries present in these compositions. The dynamic contrasts and rhythmic complexities of the “Piano Study” are especially noteworthy; Lin’s interpretations of the three versions reveal a profound understanding of the work’s structural intricacies, culminating in a volcanic third version that is nothing short of electrifying.
The recording quality from BIS is impeccable, capturing the nuances of Lin’s playing with crystal clarity. The sound engineering allows for the subtleties of Crawford Seeger’s harmonic language to resonate fully, ensuring that the listener can appreciate the intricate details woven into her compositions. Furthermore, the inclusion of “The Adventures of Tom Thumb,” while perhaps less essential to the overall impact of the album, showcases the playful narrative style that pervades Crawford Seeger’s pedagogical works.
This collection stands as a crucial entry point for those seeking to understand Ruth Crawford Seeger’s contributions to American music. Lin’s performances are both technically accomplished and deeply sensitive, illuminating the evolution of Crawford Seeger’s voice from charming simplicity to bold complexity. The album is a testament to Crawford Seeger’s artistic journey and solidifies her position as a seminal figure in the American modernist movement. Highly recommended for aficionados and newcomers alike, this recording breathes life into works that deserve a prominent place in the concert repertoire.
