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Posted by: Jennifer Gavin
Today marks the anniversary of the opening of the original Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, on Oct. 22, 1883. This is the hall, no longer in existence, where Enrico Caruso performed “Vesti La Giubba” in “Pagliacci”; where Geraldine Farrar sang “Un Bel Di,” in “Madame Butterfly.” Thanks to radio broadcasts, it was the …
Posted in: Audiovisual, Collections, Concerts, Exhibitions, Film, Manuscripts, Music
Posted by: Jennifer Gavin
The Librarian of Congress and the National Recording Preservation Board have released this year’s choices for the prestigious National Recording Registry — and as always, it’s a veritable sonic smorgasbord of terrific stuff, from many genres. The selections are made to ensure the preservation for posterity of sound recordings with cultural, artistic or historical merit. …
Posted in: Audiovisual, Collections, LC Web site, Music, Preservation, Science
Posted by: Jennifer Gavin
Quick: what do the movies “Mary Poppins” and “Pulp Fiction” have in common? Well, yes, they’re both motion pictures. But now, both are listed on the Library of Congress National Film Registry, a collection of films – 25 are added each year – deemed worthy of preservation due to their cultural, historic or aesthetic significance. …
Posted in: Audiovisual, Education, Film, LC Web site, Music, Photos, Preservation, Uncategorized
Posted by: Jennifer Gavin
Celebrants observing the 50thanniversary of the March on Washington should not miss special displays of artifacts, treasures and a talk by Congressman John Lewis on Wednesday, Aug. 28, all at the Library of Congress and all free and open to the public. Opening that day is the Library’s photo exhibition, “A Day Like No Other, …
Posted in: Audiovisual, Capitol Hill, Collections, Congress, Copyright, Curators, Education, Events, Exhibitions, History, Law Library, LC Web site, Manuscripts, Music, News, Photos, Thomas Jefferson Building, Uncategorized, Washington DC
Posted by: Jennifer Gavin
It’s the year 1933. There’s a 13-year-old kid in the front row at the movie palace. He’s watching “King Kong,” completely transfixed. And there, in the flickering light of the screen, in the roar of the soundtrack, a famous career is born – as a youngster named Ray, already obsessed with dinosaurs, tells himself “Wow. …
Posted in: Audiovisual, Blogging, Film, Uncategorized
Posted by: Jennifer Gavin
As we all prepare to take off for a midweek Fourth of July celebration that will feature hundreds, if not thousands, of bands around the nation playing John Philip Sousa marches including “Stars and Stripes Forever,” I’d like to thank my Dear Old Dad for his patience. What’s that got to do with the price …
Posted in: Audiovisual, Music, Uncategorized
Posted by: Jennifer Gavin
One of the sad facts about the commercialization of the holiday season – for me, anyway — is that many Christmas carols I related to as a child have become so much sonic wallpaper. On a positive note, though, my inner ear has anointed some tunes as “ex officio” holiday music – the entire Beatles …
Posted in: Audiovisual, Collections, History, Music, Preservation
Posted by: Jennifer Gavin
The closing days of the year are always exciting here at the Library of Congress, because the Librarian of Congress names the 25 films that are this year’s selections to the National Film Registry, which designates films that are to be preserved for posterity due to their cultural, aesthetic and historical value. But keep in …
Posted in: Audiovisual, Collections, Film, History, LC Web site, Music, Preservation, Uncategorized
Posted by: Jennifer Gavin
If you love Broadway, we have a treat for you. The Music Division of the Library of Congress has received a collection from the estate of Broadway giant John Raitt, who originated the role of Billy Bigelow in the Rodgers and Hammerstein show “Carousel” and also starred in “The Pajama Game,” “Oklahoma!” and other top …
Posted in: Audiovisual, Collections, Film, LC Web site, Manuscripts, Music, Podcasts, Uncategorized, Video