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Category: Music

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

In Retrospect: June Blogging Edition

Posted by: Erin Allen

Here’s a roundup of what’s been going on in the Library of Congress blogosphere in June. In the Muse: Performing Arts Blog “How to Find Your Snooky Ookums: A Guide to the Irving Berlin Collection” Pat Padua presents a guide to the Irving Berlin Collection. The Signal: Digital Preservation “Every Format on the Face of …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

Felix! Who Knew?

Posted by: Jennifer Gavin

If Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy – the creator of the much-loved Violin Concerto in E Minor, the “Italian Symphony” and “The Hebrides,” aka “Fingal’s Cave” – hadn’t made it so big as a composer, we might well be remembering him today as an artist.  Who knew? You can listen to the Wedding March from the incidental …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

Stars and Stripes Forever … Literally

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 …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

Pic of the Week: Hula Hula

Posted by: Erin Allen

When I was a kid, my dad went to Hawaii for work and brought back grass skirts and shell necklaces for me and my sister. I can remember prancing about the house mimicking what I thought at the time was a hula dance, likely influenced by watching too much “Fantasy Island.” According to the International …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

Legends Unplugged

Posted by: Erin Allen

On Monday, the Library of Congress announced its recent acquisition of audio interviews from of our most celebrated music icons courtesy of retired music executive Joe Smith. More than 230 hours of recorded interviews feature the likes of Bo Diddley, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney and others discussing all manners of things, from their …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

In Retrospect: May Blogging Edition

Posted by: Erin Allen

In addition to the Library of Congress blog that you’re reading right now, the institution has brought several other blogs into the fold. And, let me tell you, they are writing about some great things. From time to time, I hope to give a shout out to these blogs and direct your attention to what …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

Ten Years of Touchstones

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 …