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woman strikes a dance pose in cowboy hate and western wear

The Choreographer Who Gave Us “Ken-ergy”

Posted by: Heather Darnell

During last Sunday’s Oscars, many were quick to note the parallels between Ryan Gosling’s performance of “I’m Just Ken” and Marilyn Monroe’s “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” from the 1953 film “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. ”The “Ken Dance” took many cues from pop culture and vintage Hollywood to play on gender stereotypes. However, there was …

two photos of a woman washing her hair on stage

A Rodgers and Hammerstein Anti-Valentine’s Playlist

Posted by: Heather Darnell

Never lacking romance, the musicals of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II are often known for their love songs, such as the soaring “Some Enchanted Evening” from “South Pacific” and the cheeky “People May Say We’re in Love” from “Oklahoma!”. But not everybody wants to be reminded of fairytale romances and star-crossed soulmates—especially on Valentine’s …

Members of the 20th anniversary national tour cast of RENT lean over a table display of material from the Jonathan Larson Papers. Five cast members look engaged with the material, and one woman points to a piece of paper on the table.

Annegret Fauser and Tim Carter Fellowship at the Library of Congress Music Division

Posted by: Cait Miller

In 2024, the Music Division will launch a new fellowship, the Annegret Fauser and Tim Carter Research Fellowship, to ensure support for post-doctoral (or equivalent) researchers of any nationality engaging in projects centered on collections held within the Library’s Music Division. Completed applications are due by midnight February 18, 2024; notification will occur in March 2024.

Guitarist Miloš Karadaglić playing guitar on a rooftop, with skyline and sky behind him.

Reminder: January 17 Ticket Release for Concerts from the Library of Congress

Posted by: David Plylar

*** Registrations will be available starting at 10 a.m. EST on Wednesday, January 17, 2024*** The Library of Congress is transitioning to a new event registration service called “Etix,” and starting tomorrow (January 17, 2024) at 10 a.m. EST you can register for February-June Concerts from the Library of Congress events. The easiest way to …

Rebel Music Publisher, Honest John Playford at 400!

Posted by: Heather Darnell

The following is a guest post by Music Division Reference Librarian Dr. Stacey Jocoy. If you know the tunes to ”Greensleeves,” ”Lillibullero,” or just about any traditional British tune, you should thank John Playford (1623-1687). Known today primarily for the Playford Dances—originally published as ”The English Dancing Master” in 1650/1, Playford was the most important …

Jo Stafford fixes her hair in a mirror, an assortment of beauty products and perfumes in front of her.

Performing Arts Reading Room Website gets a Makeover!

Posted by: Heather Darnell

Hey, everyone! The Performing Arts Reading Room website has undergone a makeover. Our streamlined design is more accessible, mobile-friendly, and responsive — making it easy for researchers to find the information they need while discovering new resources. Here are just a few highlights: A simple landing page directing researchers to our various services and resources …

Woman with dark hair, fancy dress and pearls with eyes closed and mouth slightly open, singing

George Crumb: From the Faraway, Goodbye

Posted by: David Plylar

The music world lost a unique and significant voice with the passing of American composer George Crumb on Sunday, February 6, 2022. An innovative and positive force in music whose career spanned some seven decades, Crumb wrote music of great vision, depth and theatricality. The beauty of his music is perhaps matched by his calligraphy, …