The Mama of Folk Music!

I am writing a paper for school on Ruth Crawford Seeger, shown above with the school children who inspired her to write her 2 songbooks of traditional American folk songs for children. I have been exquisitely drawn into Ruth's world through reading her books and interviews from her children and husband. I am so inspired by her love for children, for her ground breaking work in teaching children these songs, allowing the children to make the songs their own through improvising words, movements and play!

Ruth's Songbooks:

American Folk Songs for Children (1948)

Animal Folk Songs for Children (1950)

Her children Pete, Peggy, Mike and Barbara Seeger .....recorded the songs from both of Ruth's children's folk songbooks, making these songs even more accessible to those who cannot read music.

Mike & Peggy Seeger: American Folk Songs for Children, Released 01/01/1977

"This acclaimed collection, a favorite for years, has been repackaged on two compact discs (or two cassettes), for a total of more than two hours of music. Mike and Peggy Seeger sing 94 songs from their mother Ruth Crawford Seeger's famous book, American Folk Songs for Children (Doubleday). The Seegers are featured on a wide variety of instruments including dulcimer, mandolin, guitar, banjo, pan pipes, Jew's harp, concertina and fiddle; they also sing some numbers without any accompaniment at all. This album has been the cornerstone of Rounder's Children's Series since its release.

Mike, Peggy, Barbara & Penny Seeger:Animal Folk Songs for Children -- and Other People!, Released 01/01/1992

Composer and educator Ruth Crawford Seeger raised her children on many of these songs, most of which she gathered and arranged for her book of the same name (Linnet Books, Shoe String Press). These recordings contain all 43 songs from the book plus another 15, sung and played by her four children and six of her grandchildren in tradition-based styles on banjo, guitar, piano, fiddle, tin whistle, ukulele, mandolin, Jew's harp, lap dulcimer, quills, and other acoustic instruments. (2 CD or 2 Cassette set.) 1993 Notable Children's Recording: American Library Association

Pete Seeger - Birds, Beasts, Bugs and Fishes, little and big Folk songs. Year of Release - 1998 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Pete Seeger released 28 songs and stories about animals on two short LP records in 1955 to an enthusiastic audience. Ever since, they have been sung by generations of parents, grandparents, and children. The two original releases have been combined on this single CD creating an irresistible collection of songs to sing along with, to draw pictures about, to play hand games to, and to be enjoyed by the entire family.