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Posted by: Cait Miller
Home to the George and Ira Gershwin Collection, the Library of Congress celebrates the 100th birthday of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" with a special concert and a look at how the Library's collections tell the story of the work's creation and reception.
Posted in: Composers, Concerts and Events, Guest bloggers, Jazz
Posted by: Claudia Morales
The following is a guest post by 2023 Library of Congress Jazz Scholar and 2024 Grammy Nominee Lakecia Benjamin. In many ways, 2023 was a breakout year for me. I was blessed to be able to perform the music I love, meet new people and experience different countries, languages, and cultures. Most people don’t know …
Posted in: Concerts and Events, Guest bloggers, Instrumentalists, Interviews, Jazz, Musical Instruments, Musicians, Outreach, Special Collections, Women in Music
Posted by: Cait Miller
This is a guest post from Head of Acquisitions & Processing Vin Novara, with Senior Music Specialists Mark Eden Horowitz, Kate Rivers, and Ray White. Nick Hornby’s book “High Fidelity” (1995) features an entertaining look at the quirks of people who intensely collect on music. Top five lists feature prominently throughout the work. As …
Posted in: Commissions, Composers, Conductors, Curators, Film Music, Guest bloggers, Musicians, New Acquisitions, New Music, Sheet Music, Special Collections
Posted by: Cait Miller
Music Reference Specialist Heather Darnell has a conversation with Jordan Rudess, keyboardist for progressive rock band Dream Theater, about a letter he wrote to Leonard Bernstein as an eight year-old boy. The letter is now held in the Leonard Bernstein Collection at the Library of Congress.
Posted in: Guest bloggers, Interviews, Musicians
Posted by: Morgen Stevens-Garmon
The Music Division's summer Pruett Fellow, Destiny Meadows, showcases a few of composer and arranger Sammy Nestico's musical partnerships.
Posted in: Composers, Guest bloggers, Jazz
Posted by: Cait Miller
Senior Music Specialist Mark Eden Horowitz reflects on his friendship with Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021) and Sondheim's connection to the Library of Congress.
Posted in: Composers, Guest bloggers, In Memoriam, Musical Theater
Posted by: Morgen Stevens-Garmon
Howard University intern Cienna Benn shares her experience work with the papers of distinguished African American opera and concert soprano Jessye Norman
Posted in: African American History, Guest bloggers, Musicians, Women in Music
Posted by: Morgen Stevens-Garmon
Emily Baumgart helps us celebrate Pride Month with a few LGBTQ+ highlights from our performing arts collections and the announcment of a forthcoming LGBTQ research guide from the Music Division.
Posted in: African American History, Composers, Guest bloggers, LGBTQ+, Musicians, Research Guides, Staff, Women in Music
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 …
Posted in: Composers, Guest bloggers, Musicians, Special Collections, Staff, Women in Music