The Library of Congress Music Division is proud to be the new home of guitarist and bandleader Eddie Condon’s Gibson L-7 Plectrum guitar, which was custom made for him in 1965. The guitar (pictured below) features a carved spruce top with a sunburst finish. Donated in 2023 by Maggie Condon, Eddie’s daughter, the guitar is …
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 …
The Library of Congress is proud to offer free digital programming from its collections for the enjoyment of audiences that are not able to attend our live events in Washington, D.C. The Music Division works with colleagues throughout the Library to ensure that past events in the Concerts from the Library of Congress series, educational …
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.
In honor of National Tap Dance Day, here is the second part of Dance Curator Libby Smigel’s interview with Debbi Dee. Earlier this month, Debbi Dee shared her memories of learning tap dancing as a child and becoming an award-winning teacher. In the second half of the interview, Dee explains how her career grew into …
The Library of Congress celebrated the acquisition of the Neil Simon Papers by hosting a conversation with actors Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker who currently star in the Broadway revival of Simon's comedy Plaza Suite. Watch a recording of their conversation with Plaza Suite director John Benjamin Hickey, as well as a video overview of the Simon Papers featuring Senior Music Specialist Mark Horowitz.
On what would have been Stephen Sondheim's 92nd birthday, Mark Eden Horowitz remembers the three days he spent interviewing the composer in 1997. The interviews are now fully available online.
The following is a blog post from first author Kaleena Black and co-author Claudia Morales. It was published on NAFME “Music Educators Journal”– September 2021 issue Kaleena Black is an Educational Resources Specialist at the Library of Congress. She can be reached at [email protected]. Claudia Morales is a Concert Producer at the Library of Congress. She …
