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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
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.
Posted in: Birthdays, Composers, Concerts and Events, Interviews, Jazz, Latin American History, Musicians, Uncategorized
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).
Posted in: Commissions, Composers, Concerts and Events, Musical Instruments, Musicians, Special Collections
Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres
Learn about new collection finding aids that have been published by the Library's Music Division. These finding aids provide bibliographic access to the Milton Ager Music Manuscripts, Marvin Hamlisch Papers, Arthur Mendel Correspondence with Igor Stravinsky and Others, Trude Rittmann Papers, William Schuman Music Manuscripts, Robert Wright and George Forrest Papers and more.
Posted in: Arrangers, Composers, Curators, Guest bloggers, Jewish American History, Musical Theater, Musicians, New finding aid, Special Collections, Theater, Women in Music
Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres
While every week at the Library offers something exciting for visitors, researchers and staff, there are certain occasions (like this week) when there is a confluence of musical activity that should perk up everyone's ears. Three major events will grace the Coolidge Auditorium stage, featuring a Broadway and film star, a stellar vocal group that features graduates of the Thomanerchor in Leipzig (that's the chorus that J.S. Bach led at Thomaskirche) and a blockbuster evening of chamber music with the Belcea and Ébène Quartets. Attendees of each event will have a unique chance to see items from the Music Division's collections.
Posted in: African American History, Composers, Concerts and Events, Instrumentalists, Musical Theater, Musicians, Special Collections, Theater
Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres
In commemoration of Veterans Day, Senior Music Specialist Loras John Schissel presents a sketch of an important American arranger, composer, and conductor who broke the color barrier in the U.S. armed forces in 1918. This man was Bandmaster William “Will” Henry Bennet Vodery. Vodery's service in the military and his work as a musician is documented in collections available for researchers in the Performing Arts Reading Room.
Posted in: African American History, Composers, Curators, Guest bloggers, Holidays, Instrumentalists, Musicians, World War I
Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres
The Music Division commemorates the 160th birthday of Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge, a trailblazing American philanthropist and musician who founded the Library's concert series and commissioning program, and established the longstanding tradition of public-private philanthropic partnerships at the institution. Explore previous Founder's Day concerts and learn more about this storied titan of American music history.
Posted in: Birthdays, Commissions, Composers, Concerts and Events, Digital Collections, Exhibitions, In Memoriam, Instrumentalists, Musicians, Special Collections, Webcasts, Women in Music
Posted by: Claudia Morales
On Friday, October 18, the Music Division had the honor of presenting 10-time Grammy winner, NEA Jazz Master, “El Sonero Mayor,” American pianist, composer, arranger, band leader and social activist, Mr. Eddie Palmieri. In 1975, Palmieri won the first-ever Grammy in the category of Best Latin Music Recording with his album “The Sun of …
Posted in: Composers, Concerts and Events, Instrumentalists, Jazz, Latin American History, Musicians, Sound recordings, Special Collections
Posted by: David Plylar
This year we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Arnold Schoenberg’s birth. The Library of Congress is the home to nearly all of Schoenberg’s music for string quartet, and over the course of two concerts given by the superb Quatuor Diotima, we will explore most of what we have, including: String Quartet in D major (1897) …
Posted in: Birthdays, Composers, Concerts and Events, Musicians