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.
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.
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.
The Music Division is pleased to announce it is accepting applications for the 2026 Annegret Fauser and Tim Carter Research Fellowship, made possible by a generous donation of Drs. Fauser and Carter in 2022. For decades, Drs. Fauser and Carter have been regular researchers in the Performing Arts Reading Room and good friends to the Music Division. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on February 15, 2026.
As the Concerts from the Library of Congress series approaches the final months of its centennial celebration, staff will share several memorable episodes from the series’ history here on "In the Muse." The first in this series recounts the famous story of how Joseph Szigeti, one of the great violinists of the twentieth century, and composer Béla Bartók came to connect with the Library.
María Peña of the Library's Office of Communications recounts the life and legacy of Latin jazz musician Eddie Palmieri who passed away in early August. Palmieri performed at the Library in October 2024 and participated in a wide-ranging oral history interview with Claudia Morales of the Music Division.
Music Reference Specialist Morgan Davis recaps a lecture delivered by Dr. I Augustus Durham at the Library on June 5, 2025. His lecture, entitled “Marvin Gaye: Melancholy and Genius in Black Culture and Media,” explored the influence of creators such as George and Ira Gershwin, Marian Anderson and Mahalia Jackson, on music from the crime thriller “Trouble Man” scored by Marvin Gaye. This blog includes the video of the lecture.
Former Stanford University Liljenquist Fellow Ben Limric discusses his experience creating two StoryMaps for the Music Division. The StoryMaps are interactive digital webpages that share the stories of several Civil War instruments and the soldiers they belonged too. The instruments were generously donated to the Library by James Madison Council member Tom Liljenquist and provide insights into the life of Union musicians during the Civil War.
University of Kentucky MSLS graduate Jay Stringer-Vaught describes their time researching in the Music Division's collections as part of an Alternative Spring Break Program. Stringer-Vaught describes the "extraordinary" experience of seeing some of Stephen Sondheim's papers—recently acquired by the Library—up close.