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Category: Special Collections

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Nicolò Paganini: Virtuosic Rock Star of the 19th Century

Posted by: Paul Sommerfeld

The following post was written in collaboration with Senior Music Specialist Susan Clermont.  The label “rock star” tends to conjure images of modern-day bands like the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, the Go-Gos, Queen, or Led Zeppelin. But if we venture further back into the 19th century, virtuoso performing artists like pianist Franz Liszt, bassist Domenico …

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Concerts from the Library of Congress Announces Fall Concerts

Posted by: Claudia Morales

The following is a guest post from Senior Concert Producer, Anne McLean.  A packed and exciting fall lineup kicks off the 2021–22 Concerts from the Library of Congress season, presenting master musicians and a wide-ranging, diverse roster of virtual events in classical music, jazz and dance. On offer are concerts, lectures, conversations with artists and …

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Béla Bartók’s Early Works and His Student Etelka Freund

Posted by: Morgen Stevens-Garmon

The following is a guest post from Archives Processing Technician Dr. Rachel McNellis. In his essay, “The Influence of Peasant Music on Modern Music,” published in 1931, Hungarian composer Béla Bartók (1881–1945) describes the beauty of folk music and its significance to classical composers: “The right type of peasant music is most varied and perfect …