Worlds of Music 2: Blog

Ruth Crawford Seeger and Peggy Seeger: A Musical Legacy

Charles and Ruth Crawford Seeger with 3 of their children. Peggy is seated on her father’s lap.

Ruth Crawford Seeger and her daughter Peggy Seeger are two remarkable figures whose contributions to music have left us a rich inheritance. Their lives and work are intertwined, reflecting a deep commitment to both modernist composition and the preservation of folk music.

Ruth Crawford Seeger: The Modernist and Folk Music Advocate

Ruth Crawford Seeger was a pioneering composer and musicologist. Her early work in the 1920s and 1930s established her as a leading figure in American modernist music. Her compositions, such as the String Quartet 1931, are celebrated for their innovative use of dissonance and complex structures.

In the late 1930s, Ruth shifted her focus to the preservation of American folk music. She collaborated with her husband, Charles Seeger, and other folk music enthusiasts to collect, transcribe, and arrange traditional songs. Her publications, including "American Folk Songs for Children," have been invaluable in keeping these traditions alive.

Peggy Seeger: The Folk Music Icon

Peggy Seeger, born in 1935, grew up immersed in the rich musical environment created by her parents. Influenced by her mother's dedication to folk music, Peggy became a prominent folk singer, songwriter, and activist. Her first album with Smithsonian Folkways, "Songs of Courting and Complaint," was recorded in 1955, marking the beginning of her influential career. (View correspondences with Moses Asch regarding the album.)

Peggy's music often reflects the themes of love, politics, and social justice, and she has been a key figure in the folk music revival. Her work with Smithsonian Folkways has helped to preserve and promote folk music to new generations.

A Shared Commitment to Folk Music

Ruth and Peggy Seeger's contributions to folk music are deeply connected. Ruth's meticulous transcriptions and arrangements provided a foundation for Peggy's musical explorations. Growing up, Peggy was surrounded by the folk songs her mother worked so hard to preserve, and this early exposure profoundly influenced her musical path.

Together, Ruth and Peggy Seeger have ensured that the rich heritage of folk music remains vibrant and accessible. Their combined efforts have not only preserved traditional songs but also inspired countless musicians and listeners around the world.

Smithsonian Global Sounds for Libraries:

Ruth Crawford Seeger

Peggy Seeger