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Posted by: Paul Sommerfeld
Each summer, several interns arrive at the Music Division to complete a variety of projects with our collections. This year, we’re introducing them as they arrive, and will share stories of what they discover throughout their time at the Library. This week, we’re introducing our two Junior Fellows, Chloe Hovind and Hannah Reynolds. Library Science …
Posted in: Interviews, Staff
Posted by: Larry Appelbaum
In January of 2017, I traveled to a suburb outside of Phoenix, Arizona to meet Dr. Gregory Morris and family. Morris is the nephew of Billy Strayhorn and Executor of the Billy Strayhorn Estate. Dr. Morris, a retired educator originally from Pittsburgh, kept the collection in safe hands for nearly five decades. The papers, including …
Posted in: African American History, Interviews, Jazz, New Acquisitions, Special Collections
Posted by: David Plylar
Concerts from the Library of Congress is pleased to announce the 2018-2019 season, filled with an astonishing roster of artists and speakers. Building on the world-class chamber music you love to hear in the Coolidge Auditorium—which this year includes the Emerson Quartet with David Finckel, the Brentano Quartet with Hsin-Yun Huang and the Tetzlaff-Tetzlaff-Vogt Trio, …
Posted in: Composers, Concerts and Events, Curators, Dance, Film Music, Interviews, Jazz, Musicians
Posted by: Larry Appelbaum
Today marks the birthday of singer, songwriter, actress, and political activist Abbey Lincoln (Anna Marie Wooldridge August 6, 1930 – August 14, 2010). One of many singers influenced by Billie Holiday, she made her breakthrough in 1956 with her first recording, Abbey Lincoln’s Affair, and her appearance in the film The Girl Can’t Help It. Though she …
Posted in: African American History, Birthdays, Interviews, Jazz, Musicians, Special Collections, Women in Music
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: Cait Miller
Nearly one year ago, the Music Division happily welcomed Tony Award-winning composer and orchestrator Jason Robert Brown to the Library of Congress. He came to perform and talk about his own music with special guest Shoshana Bean on December 9, 2016 as a part of the Library’s concert series, but we were also fortunate to …
Posted in: Composers, Concerts and Events, Interviews, Musical Theater, Musicians, Webcasts
Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres
On Monday, October 9, visitors to the Library will have the opportunity to see and explore our historic Main Reading Room in the Thomas Jefferson Building, as part of the Library’s Semi-Annual Main Reading Room Open House. This family-friendly opportunity offers the public an opportunity to get a taste of the Library’s collections, exhibitions, and …
Posted in: Curators, Exhibitions, Film Music, Interviews, Special Collections, Staff
Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres
The Library of Congress recently celebrated its extensive comic book collection with a pop-up exhibit (“Library of Awesome“) and a series of programs that culminated in a special appearance by Lynda Carter, the original Wonder Woman. During her appearance, Carter donated some remarkable items to the American people that will be housed in the Library’s …
Posted in: Exhibitions, Interviews, New Acquisitions, Special Collections
Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres
The following post originally appeared on the Copyright: Creativity at Work Blog and was written by George Thuronyi of the U.S. Copyright Office. As a teenager during the 1970s, I put on my bell-bottom pants and shiny shirt to groove to the latest disco hits. I was not alone. Disco culture was highly popular and …
Posted in: Concerts and Events, Copyright Deposits, Curators, Guest bloggers, Interviews, Musicians, Sheet Music, Special Collections, Staff