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Posted by: Mark Hartsell
Judy Garland insisted that the original gloomy lyrics of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" be rewritten to a warm, wistful tone in what is now a holiday standard. Garland debuted the song in the 1944 musical, "Meet Me in St. Louis."
Posted in: Christmas, Music, Performing Arts
Posted by: Wendi Maloney
Lin-Manuel Miranda and his production team researched Jonathan Larson's papers at the Library for the new musical, "tick...tick...Boom!" Here's how they did it.
Posted in: Film, Music, Performing Arts, Theater
Posted by: Neely Tucker
Mark Eden Horowitz, a senior music specialist in the Music Division, recounts his long friendship with Stephen Sondheim and how the maestro's papers will come to the Library.
Posted in: Library Work and Employees, Music, Performing Arts, Theater
Posted by: Neely Tucker
Billy Strayhorn was an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and lyricist, most often working for the Duke Ellington Orchestra. He wrote "Take the 'A' Train," "Lush Life," "Chelsea Bridge," "Day Dream" and dozens of other standards. His papers are collected at the Library of Congress.
Posted in: African American History, Music, Performing Arts
Posted by: Neely Tucker
Hazel Scott was the gorgeous face of jazz at the mid-century; the most glamorous, well-known Black woman in America, making more than $100,000 per year, draped in custom-designed jewelry and furs. Her remarkable career is preserved in the Library's Music Division.
Posted in: African American History, Music, Performing Arts
Posted by: Neely Tucker
Glen Campbell's hit recording of "Wichita Lineman" is one of the inductees into the National Recording Registry. Here's how Campbell, songwriter Jimmy Webb and studio musicians put the song together.
Posted in: Music, National Recording Registry, Performing Arts
Posted by: Neely Tucker
The earliest known English-language work on magic was published in England in 1635, containing how-tos for many tricks, including an on-stage decapitation. It's the forerunner of the "saw the assistant in half" trick, performed for ages. The Library's copy of this influential book comes from the library of Harry Houdini, the master magician and escape artist of the early 20th century, who donated his collection to the Library.
Posted in: Performing Arts, Rare Book and Special Collections
Posted by: Neely Tucker
During Pride Month, the U.S. Copyright Office offers guidance and encouragement to drag performers to register their creative work for copyright protection.
Posted in: Copyright, LGBTQ, Performing Arts
Posted by: Neely Tucker
“Dear Bob….Bob Hope’s Wartime Correspondence with the GIs of World War II," a new book, draws heavily on the Library's Bob Hope Collection.
Posted in: Performing Arts, World War II