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Blogs Categories: Jewish American History

Blogs Categories: Jewish American History

The Barry Sisters and "Yiddish Swing"

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Drawing from the recently processed Barry Sisters Papers housed in the Library of Congress Music Division, archivist Maya Lerman introduces the Barry Sisters vocal duo and their artistic contribution to the development of "Yiddish Swing."

Now Streaming: January 2024 Edition

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The Library of Congress is proud to offer free digital programming from its collections for the enjoyment of audiences that are not able to attend our live events in Washington, D.C. The Music Division works with colleagues throughout the Library to ensure that past events in the Concerts from the Library of Congress series, educational …

It Runs in the Family: Heartwarming Photos from the Music Division

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It’s that time of the year when many Americans gather with their families to cut the turkey, gobble up pumpkin pie, and feel grateful for one another. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, let’s look at heartwarming photos our favorite artistic families from the Music Division’s Digital Collections: Sylvia Fine and Danny Kaye   Sylvia Fine …

High Holiday Music in the Music Division

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Tonight at sunset (Friday, September 15, 2023) through Sunday after nightfall, Jewish Americans and Jews around the world celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, to welcome the year 5784 in the Jewish calendar! The Music Division does not disappoint with its holdings of both religious and secular music for this time. Here is a small sample of the gems in our holdings so that we may celebrate together.

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

Leichtentritt: From Nazi Germany to the Nation’s Capital

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Before the dawn of the Third Reich, Jewish scholar Hugo Leichtentritt encountered three fellow musicologists: Oscar Sonneck, Carl Engel, and Harold Spivacke. Each of these men would assume the role of Chief of the Music Division of the Library of Congress and be instrumental to the preservation of the oeuvres of international artists, including Leichtentritt.

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

The Devotions of David Diamond

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This blog post celebrates composer David Diamond's contributions to the enrichment of Jewish synagogue music. The Music Division of the Library of Congress is home to the David Diamond Collection.

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

Imagining the U.S. Immigrant Musical Theater

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The following is a guest post from Dr. John Koegel, Professor of Musicology at California State University, Fullerton. Dr. Koegel will be presenting the Fall 2019 American Musicological Society/Library of Congress Lecture, “Recovering the History of the U.S. Immigrant Musical Theater at the Library of Congress” tonight (November 12, 2019) at 7pm in the Montpelier …

Remembering Mario Davidovsky

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On Friday, August 23, 2019, the music community lost a giant – Mario Davidovsky. Mario Davidovsky’s relationship with the Library of Congress Music Division began with three commissioned works at very different stylistic points in his career, and culminated in placing his papers on deposit in 2013.

Sophie Maslow and the Chanukah Festivals for Israel

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The following is a guest post by Hallie Chametzky. Dance Archivist Libby Smigel introduces Hallie: Hallie Chametzky completed her summer Junior Fellowship with the Music Division in early August. Working with the papers of choreographer and Martha Graham Dance Company member Sophie Maslow, she discovered a wealth of documentation on a significant performance event, the …