Top of page
Posted by: Larry Appelbaum
A deep bow of respect for pianist, composer, bandleader and jazz activist Billy Taylor on what would be his 97th birthday. He was born in North Carolina but grew up in Washington, D.C. and studied with Henry Grant, who taught Duke Ellington a generation before. After moving to New York Taylor began working and recording …
Posted in: African American History, Birthdays, Composers, Guest bloggers, Interviews, Jazz, Musicians, Special Collections
Posted by: Larry Appelbaum
British bassist Peter Ind turns 90 today, and we have fond memories of his visit to the Performing Arts Reading Room in 2009. Ind is an important jazz double bassist and record producer who studied with Tim Bell and James Merrett and became a professional musician in 1947. I was anxious to talk to him …
Posted in: Guest bloggers, Jazz, Musicians
Posted by: David Plylar
This is a guest post by Music Division intern Liliana Lopez. THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS and WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS PRESENT SUMMER CONCERTS ON THE LAWN Thursday evenings at 7 pm, July 19-August 23, 2018 Great music on a beautiful green lawn… bring your friends and some nice cold lemonade—don’t miss the Library’s brand-new, free …
Posted in: Concerts and Events, Guest bloggers, Jazz, Musicians
Posted by: Cait Miller
The following is a guest post from Gershwin Archivist Janet McKinney. Dear Jerry, Much as I hate to bother you, you must forgive me if, on rare occasion, I do. I know you are busy rehearsing your next, and what I hope will be a successful show, but if you could take a few minutes …
Posted in: Composers, Curators, Guest bloggers, Musical Theater, Special Collections
Posted by: Larry Appelbaum
We were sad to learn earlier this week about the passing of pianist, composer, singer and educator Henry Butler, who lost his struggle with cancer on Monday at the age of 68. I’d seen this blind virtuoso many times over the years but it’s worth remembering two meetings that had the most impact on me …
Posted in: African American History, Composers, Curators, Guest bloggers, In Memoriam, Jazz, Musicians
Posted by: Cait Miller
The following is a guest post from Music Reference Specialist Paul Allen Sommerfeld. The contents of Paganini’s famed ravioli recipe are well known, but few people seem to attempt making it. So to get a sense of what Paganini might have himself eaten after a long day of performing—perhaps providing a sense of home while …
Posted in: Guest bloggers, Musicians, Special Collections
Posted by: Libby Smigel
The following is a guest post from Stephanie Ruozzo, one of the Music Division’s summer Fellows from Case Western Reserve University. Dance Curator Libby Smigel introduces her: Meet Stephanie Ruozzo, a doctoral candidate researching Jerome Kern as part of her doctoral studies in musicology. Stephanie is spending her summer as a CWRU Fellow consulting the …
Posted in: Dance, Guest bloggers, Special Collections, Women in Dance
Posted by: Cait Miller
The following is a guest post from Dr. Daniel Callahan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Music at Boston College, who will be presenting the Spring 2018 American Musicological Society/Library of Congress lecture on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 (tomorrow). The event is free and open to the public. Dear Bradley Cooper and Jake Gyllenhaal, …
Posted in: Guest bloggers, LGBTQ+, Special Collections
Posted by: Pat Padua
The following is a guest post from retired cataloger Sharon McKinley. May 8 is World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day. Founded in 1881, the American Red Cross organization was still rather small when the United States entered World War I. But services multiplied, millions helped collect supplies and money, and many served overseas, particularly …
Posted in: Guest bloggers, Sheet Music of the Week, Women in Music, World War I