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Category: Musicians

Image of Stradivari viola laying on velvet cloth on a table

A Second Stradivari Viola Finds a Home at the Library of Congress

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.

View from the Coolidge Auditorium stage looking out at the seats with a Steinway 9-foot piano on stage.

Now Streaming: Leslie Odom Jr., Lectures, and Artist Conversations

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.

Photo of Scala in 1903 at his home. Seated outdoors.

A Note from President Lincoln

Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres

University of Kentucky MLS candidate Jay Stringer-Vaught discusses a unique item in the Music Division’s collections written by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862 to Francis Maria Scala, then-leader of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. Also learn about several past appearances by "The President's Own" on the Concerts from the Library of Congress series, which celebrates 100 years in 2025.

Image of saxophone player in Air Force uniform playing their instrument, with other musicians on stage in the background.

From the Coolidge Auditorium to the WETA Airwaves

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.

Happy 88th Birthday to the “Sun of Latin Music,” Mr. Eddie Palmieri

Posted by: Claudia Morales

On December 15, 2024, the music world celebrated the 88th birthday of "El Sonero Mayor," the legendary ten-time Grammy winner, NEA Jazz Master, American pianist, composer, arranger, bandleader and social advocate, Eddie Palmieri. As the community honors his remarkable life and legacy, we are thrilled to share highlights from our recent conversation before his performance at the historic Coolidge Auditorium on October 18, 2024.

Reunited: Morton Subotnick and the Buchla 100

Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres

Electronic music pioneer Morton Subotnick visits the Library this Thursday, December 5 at 5:00 p.m. ET for a special event that will feature a live demonstration of his recently restored, historic Buchla 100 synthesizer. Subotnick, whose papers are held by the Library, will be joined by composer Steve Antosca and members of the Modular Electronic Music Systems (MEMS) team. Attend in person or via livestream (registration required).