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Posted by: Libby Smigel
The Music Division staff spotlight the Top 5 acquisitions of 2025, including the 1690 Tuscan-Medici viola by Antonio Stradivari, Igor Stravinsky's holograph for "The Nightengale," the papers of the composer Ellen Taaffe Zwilich and the pianist Paul Wittgenstein, and the archives of master of musical theater Stephen Sondheim.
Posted in: Composers, Musical Instruments, Musicians, New Acquisitions, Special Collections, Women in Music
Posted by: Claudia Morales
Concerts from the Library of Congress launches an exciting, yearlong America 250 celebration this January, presenting a broad panorama of the nation’s music in concerts and conversations, lectures, film screenings, educational programs and more.
Posted in: American history, chamber music, Choreographers, Commissions, Composers, Concerts and Events, Conductors, Dance, Early Music, Instrumentalists, Jazz, Musical Instruments, Musical Theater, Musicians
Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres
As the Concerts from the Library of Congress series approaches the final months of its centennial celebration, staff will share several memorable episodes from the series’ history here on "In the Muse." The first in this series recounts the famous story of how Joseph Szigeti, one of the great violinists of the twentieth century, and composer Béla Bartók came to connect with the Library.
Posted in: Commissions, Composers, Concerts and Events, Music Division history, Musical Instruments, Musicians, Special Collections
Posted by: Claudia Morales
Concerts from the Library of Congress presents a 15-event lineup for the fall 2025 season, wrapping up its successful 18-month centennial celebration with a rich mix of classical, jazz and pop concerts, lectures, conversations and special projects that salute the distinguished history of the series.
Posted in: Commissions, Composers, Concerts and Events, Conductors, Film Music, Instrumentalists, Jazz, Musical Instruments, Musicians, Vocalists
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
The Library of Congress Music Division announces in the acquisition of the 1690 Tuscan-Medici viola made by Antonio Stradivari. Now rechristened Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1690, viola, Fulton, ex Baird, Tuscan-Medici, the acquisition was made possible through an extraordinary gift to the nation from David and Amy Fulton and the Baird family’s Tuscan Corporation. Learn about this historic addition to the Library's instrument collection.
Posted in: American history, Commissions, Composers, Concerts and Events, Instrumentalists, Music Division history, Musical Instruments, Musicians, New Acquisitions, New Music, Special Collections
Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres
Enjoy recently released event videos from the 2024-2025 season of Concerts from the Library of Congress. Highlights include a conversation with Tony Award-winner Leslie Odom Jr., lectures by Christoph Wolff and Harvey Sachs, Renée Fleming's appearance at the 2024 National Book Festival, AMS lectures, Henry Mancini at 100 events, and numerous pre-concert conversations with artists.
Posted in: Commissions, Composers, Concerts and Events, Curators, Digital Collections, Instrumentalists, Interviews, Jazz, Musical Instruments, Musicians, Staff, Webcasts
Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres
Save the date for the return of the Library's concert series to the airwaves on December 30, 2024 at 8 p.m. ET on WETA. Enjoy a broadcast of the February 12, 2024, "Rhapsody in Blue" at 100 concert featuring The U.S. Air Force Band and pianist Simone Dinnerstein. The Library of Congress is home to the George and Ira Gershwin Collection.
Posted in: Arrangers, Composers, Concerts and Events, Conductors, Instrumentalists, Jazz, Jewish American History, Music Division history, Musical Instruments, Musicians, Outreach, Sound recordings, Special Collections
Posted by: Claudia Morales
Japanese-born pianist, composer and bandleader Hiromi Uehara, performed at the Library of Congress on Friday, November 8, 2024. Learn about her experience exploring the Library's collections and playing on George Gershwin's piano.
Posted in: Asian American History, Composers, Concerts and Events, Interviews, Jazz, Musical Instruments, Musicians, Sheet Music, Women in Music