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Archive: March 2011 (14 Posts)

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Jazz in the Spring at the Nation’s Library

Posted by: Pat Padua

Next week, the Music Division’s popular jazz film series returns to the Mary Pickford Theater.  Senior Reference Specialist and In the Muse blogger Larry Appelbaum curated the series and provided program notes. Monday evenings at 7:00 pm – Mary Pickford Theater, 3rd Floor, James Madison Building. No tickets or reservations needed. Limited seating begins at 6:30pm. …

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Sheet Music of the Week: It’s Showtime! Edition

Posted by: Pat Padua

The following is a guest post by Senior Cataloging Specialist Sharon McKinley. The Library of Congress has amazing depth in its holdings of sheet music, thanks in large part to Copyright deposits. It’s Showtime is a database of excerpts from operas, musicals and musical revues, films, and more. You’ll find over 18,000 shows and productions …

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Clicking Through to Our Musical Treasure Trove

Posted by: Cait Miller

Safeguarding a collection as rare and valuable as that housed in the Music Division is an incredible responsibility, and one that carries with it difficult challenges. In my opinion, the single biggest issue facing archivists and librarians today is how to best preserve our cherished materials while simultaneously providing access to the many performers and …

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Sheet Music of the Week: Animals at Large Edition

Posted by: Pat Padua

Continuing Wednesday’s puppy theme and expanding our range of species is this week’s featured sheet music, from the composer of last week’s “Baby Elephant Waltz.” The August 1921 Etude, a serial issued by music publisher Theodore Presser, tells us that Pierre Latour was the nom de plume of one E. Mack, who presumably thought the …

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

Arf Musica

Posted by: Pat Padua

Today the blogosphere celebrates National Puppy Day. In the Muse throws their august paw into the ring with this unusual whistle made by an unknown crafstman.   According to the item’s description, “the dog’s neck contains a threaded hole indicating this was a handle for something, possibly a small walking cane.”  We do not know if …

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

CANCELED: March 26th concert with Tanya Tomkins

Posted by: Pat Padua

Due to illness, Tanya Tomkins will not perform Bach’s cello suites in the Coolidge Auditorium this Saturday, March 26th. The performance and pre-concert lecture have been canceled. We hope to reschedule her for the next concert season. In the meantime, watch Tomkins perform excerpts from the Bach repertoire on her website. Get well soon, Tanya!

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

Sheet Music of the Week: Baby Elephant Edition

Posted by: Pat Padua

Next Tuesday the annual DC Elephant Walk comes to town, bringing with it the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.  This week we celebrate the mighty pachyderm with F. F. Hagen’s “Baby Elephant March.” For another  example of the dimunitive animal’s terpsichorean versatility,  see Pierre Latour’s “Baby Elephant Waltz,” which also hails from the Historic …