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Posted by: Pat Padua
On this date in 1846, Belgian-born Antoine-Joseph “Adolphe” Sax patented the family of instruments that bear his name. The saxophone was originally developed in two categories, an orchestral group and a band or military group, of seven instruments each. Only a handful of these varieties are in common use today, although composer/musician Anthony Braxton, who …
Posted in: Jazz, Musical Instruments, Musicians, Special Collections
Posted by: Pat Padua
Dancer/ Choreographer Bob Fosse was born on this day in 1927. Among his accomplishments are classics of both stage and screen. He won eight Tony awards for his choreography in shows like The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees, and Sweet Charity. The Broadway revival of Chicago, for which Fosse co-wrote the book, holds the record for …
Posted in: Birthdays, Dance, Film Music, Pic of the Week, Special Collections
Posted by: Cait Miller
The following is a guest post from Head of Acquisitions & Processing Denise Gallo. On April 17, 1861, Virginia adopted the Ordinance of Secession, a document which rescinded its original ratification of the Constitution in 1788. This made Virginia “a free and independent State,” dissolving any ties with the Union and giving Virginians “the full …
Posted in: Guest bloggers, Sheet Music of the Week
Posted by: Pat Padua
Stately, blithe Gerry Mulligan came from the dry cleaners, bearing a vinyl pouch in which he and his thoughts stood crouched. In the Muse wishes you a Happy Bloomsday, and takes the opportunity to share a Pic of the Week unrelated to Buck Mulligan but from the Gerry Mulligan Collection in the Performing Arts Encyclopedia. Needless …
Posted in: Musicians, Pic of the Week, Special Collections
Posted by: Cait Miller
It’s Flag Day! On this day in 1777, the design of the US flag was officially approved by Congress. We have been taking a little time every June 14th to celebrate the flag since 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson established this day as a national day of recognition – you can read more about Flag Day …
Posted in: Digital Collections, Sheet Music of the Week
Posted by: Pat Padua
Today’s Google Doodle celebrates the birthday of guitar legend Les Paul with an interactive logo whose strings you can play with your cursor. U. S. doodlers can even record and share their performance. Les Paul would have been 96 today. Remember his technical innovation and electric musicianship with photos from the William P. Gottlieb Collection in …
Posted in: Birthdays, Musicians, Pic of the Week, Special Collections
Posted by: Pat Padua
The following is a guest post by Senior Cataloging Specialist Sharon McKinley. The average person might think that cataloging is a dull job, but it most certainly isn’t here in the Music Division! Okay, so the umpteenth biography of Justin Bieber may get a bit old, but one of our primary jobs is making the …
Posted in: Guest bloggers, Newly Cataloged, Sheet Music, Sheet Music of the Week, Special Collections
Posted by: Cait Miller
We’re bringing back our Five Questions interview today with Music Cataloger Laura Yust (courtesy of Senior Music Cataloger Sharon McKinley). Enjoy! Laura, what are you working on these days? Besides the regular scores and books about music, I’m cataloging a fascinating item from the mid-16th century that contains German tracts on music and music theory …
Posted in: Staff, Staff Interviews
Posted by: Pat Padua
This weekend Washington hosts the 2011 Seersucker Social, an event where the city’s hipsterati don vintage threads and leisurely tour the town upon vintage bicycles. So if you’re in the Nation’s Capital tomorrow you may happen upon scenes that recall this week’s featured picture, a candid snapshot of composer Aaron Copland with harpist Djina Ostrowska. Visit …
Posted in: Composers, Pic of the Week, Special Collections