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Posted by: Pat Padua
I for one welcome our new insect leaders with open arms. As we celebrate our 1001st blog post (give or take a few), the Music Division also celebrates a major update to the Federal Theatre Project Collection, which features some of the most requested material in the division. Much of the work for this update …
Posted in: Special Collections, Theater
Posted by: Pat Padua
Hyun was poised to become the first Asian American director on Broadway until fate and prejudice stepped in.
Posted in: Asian American History, Special Collections, Theater
Posted by: Pat Padua
Who was this caped costume designed for? The answer may surprise you! The Music Division has greatly expanded the amount of materials available online from the Federal Theatre Project Collection. A selection from this popular collection was first put online over 20 years ago, and this updated version contains more than 6,500 digital items, including costume designs, …
Posted in: Special Collections
Posted by: Pat Padua
The following post is by retired music cataloger Sharon McKinley. I’ve enjoyed perusing the Library’s World War I sheet music over the past few years as we’ve commemorated the centennial of The Great War. We are now coming to the end of the fighting. Although the Treaty of Paris wasn’t signed until June 28,1919, an …
Posted in: Guest bloggers, Holidays, Sheet Music, Special Collections, World War I
Posted by: Pat Padua
The following is by retired cataloger Sharon McKinley. The sinking of the Lusitania was one of many rallying events of WWI. Interestingly, the ship was sunk two years before the United Sates entered the war: on May 7, 1915. She was a civilian ship of the Cunard line, but was carrying some war materiel along …
Posted in: Sheet Music, Special Collections, World War I
Posted by: Pat Padua
With 2016 drawing to a close, anxious music fans may worry that a year that has taken away so many legends may yet give us one more reason to mourn. Starting with the death of Natalie Cole on New Year’s Day, dozens of artists who have provided the soundtracks of our lives died this year. …
Posted in: Composers, In Memoriam, Musicians, Special Collections
Posted by: Pat Padua
A guest blog post by retired cataloger Sharon McKinley. While researching Geraldine Farrar a few years ago, I noticed that she is buried at Kensico Cemetery, located in Valhalla, New York. Coincidentally, my grandparents are there as well. Beyond the fact that having a cemetery in a place called Valhalla is a grand idea, Kensico …
Posted in: Guest bloggers, Special Collections
Posted by: Pat Padua
The following is a guest post by retired cataloger Sharon McKinley It’s that time again when the world focuses on the glories of the Summer Olympics. Many of us are enthralled by the extensive coverage. Basketball! Cycling! Gymnastics! Track and field! Badminton! No, don’t laugh. That’s the competitive sport I played as a teenager. Alas, …
Posted in: Guest bloggers, Sheet Music, Special Collections
Posted by: Pat Padua
The following is a guest post from retired cataloger Sharon McKinley. All around the mulberry bush, The monkey chased the weasel. The monkey thought it was all in fun, Pop! goes the weasel. I recently ran into an unexpected and amusing piece of music which proved to have a long and varied history. The piece? …
Posted in: Guest bloggers, Sheet Music of the Week, Special Collections