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Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres
Andrew Northrup of UCL's Slade School of Fine Art discusses research findings related to the Library's Buchla 100 modular synthesizer in the Vladimir Ussachevsky Collection in the Music Division.
Posted in: Composers, Electronic Music, Musicians
Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres
The Library of Congress recently published “Let the People Hear It: Concerts from the Library of Congress at 100” (Library of Congress, 2025). The book provides a visual journey through the history of the Library’s renowned concert series, which was established in 1925 by philanthropist Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge and Carl Engel, then-chief of the Library’s Music Division. Learn about this new book and where to catch the authors on book tour this coming winter and spring.
Posted in: American history, Commissions, Composers, Concerts and Events, Curators, Music Division history, Musicians, Staff
Posted by: Libby Smigel
Enjoy a sample set of winter holiday cards found in the Music Division's special collections.
Posted in: Guest bloggers, Holidays, Special Collections
Posted by: Libby Smigel
The following blog post on composer Anthony Braxton is contributed by Dr. Stephanie Akau, senior archivist in the Library of Congress Music Division. She introduces the newly available resources in the Anthony Braxton Papers. In spring 2025, Processing Technician Jada Twitty and I processed the papers of composer, pedagogue and multi-instrumentalist Anthony Braxton. Not only …
Posted in: Composers, Guest bloggers, New finding aid, Special Collections
Posted by: Libby Smigel
Meet Mrs. Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge and the story behind 100 years of free concerts in the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress. Mrs. Coolidge's fascinating life and her support of chamber music in the United States is now fully discoverable through the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Foundation Collection held by Music Division.
Posted in: chamber music, Commissions, Music Division history, New finding aid, Special Collections
Posted by: Libby Smigel
Guest blogger Mary Galvin shares her exploration of the newly available music materials of Peggy Seeger, found in the Seeger Family Collection held by the Library of Congress Music Division.
Posted in: Composers, Guest bloggers, Special Collections, Women in Music
Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres
View "The Music of Oz," including treasures from the creation of "The Wizard of Oz," "The Wiz" and "Wicked," in the Thomas Jefferson Building from December 9 through January 31. Also on display is Harold Arlen's Oscar Award for "Over the Rainbow." The Library of Congress recently acquired rare music and lyric sketches from composer Harold Arlen and lyricist E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, best known for their collaboration on the score of the iconic film “The Wizard of Oz” in 1939. The new acquisition includes 35 manuscript items from Arlen and Harburg’s creative work, including the first handwritten drafts of music and lyrics from some of the most beloved songs from “The Wizard of Oz,” including "Over the Rainbow," made famous by Judy Garland. Learn more about this exciting addition to the collections.
Posted in: American history, Composers, Film Music
Posted by: Cait Miller
Louis Armstrong and Lil Hardin Armstrong brought the sounds of New Orleans and Chicago-style jazz to the forefront of America’s early 20th century soundscape. Learn more about Armstrong materials at the Library of Congress in this resource guide.
Posted in: African American History, Blues, Composers, Jazz, Research Guides
Posted by: Libby Smigel
Ed Zanders, a British composer and musical director based in London, shares some of his discoveries of Sondheim's creative process, found amongst the Stephen Sondheim Papers held by the Library of Congress Music Division. The finding aid to the newly acquired Stephen Sondheim Papers is now available online, and a small set of materials from the collection is on display in the Performing Arts Reading Room.
Posted in: Composers, Guest bloggers, Musical Theater, New Acquisitions, New finding aid, Special Collections