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Posted by: Heather Darnell
On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, the Library of Congress Music Division had the honor of welcoming attendees of the Dance Studies Association’s Annual Conference to a special collection display. Held this year in Washington, D.C., the conference explored the theme “Indeterminate States: Bodies, Fields, Practice.” Inspired by the city’s complex symbolic and practical relationship to …
Posted in: Uncategorized
Posted by: Heather Darnell
The Library of Congress Music Division is excited to announce the release of Black Dancers and Choreographers: A Guide to Resources at the Library of Congress, a comprehensive research guide showcasing the Library’s unique resources on the rich history and cultural impact of Black artists in American dance. Since the 19th century, Black dancers and …
Posted in: Uncategorized
Posted by: Heather Darnell
The Library of Congress Music Division is excited to announce the release of Martha Graham: A Guide to Resources at the Library of Congress, a comprehensive research guide showcasing the Library’s unique resources documenting the life and work of the influential American choreographer. Martha Graham (1894—1991) revolutionized dance in the twentieth century with an emotionally …
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Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres
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.
Posted in: Composers, Concerts and Events, In Memoriam, Instrumentalists, Jazz, Latin American History, Musicians, Staff Interviews
Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres
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.
Posted in: African American History, American history, Concerts and Events, Musical Theater, Musicians
Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres
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.
Posted in: American history, Digital Collections, Instrumentalists, Musical Instruments, Special Collections
Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres
In commemoration of the Library's acquisition of the Stephen Sondheim Collection, Senior Music Specialist Mark Eden Horowitz reflects on the work and legacy of Stephen Sondheim.
Posted in: American history, Composers, Curators, LGBTQ+, Musical Theater, Musicians, New Acquisitions, Special Collections, Webcasts
Posted by: Cait Miller
The Music Division’s newest research guide, James Reese Europe: A Guide to Resources at the Library of Congress, provides a gateway to accessing historic sheet music, unique literary manuscripts, newspaper archives, recordings, photographs and scholarly research by and related to leading cultural figure James Reese Europe (1881-1919).
Posted in: African American History, American history, Jazz, Research Guides, World War I
Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres
Curator of the George and Ira Gershwin Collection Ray White discusses the origins of the Gershwins' "Porgy and Bess" in commemoration of the work's 90th anniversary. The Library and Washington National Opera present a concert and panel discussion to celebrate the anniversary on Wednesday, April 23 at 6:00 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium.
Posted in: African American History, American history, Composers, Concerts and Events, Curators, Musical Theater, Special Collections, Staff