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Posted by: Pat Padua
The Music Division wishes you a happy New Year’s Eve. If you find your midnight kiss watched over by the winking satellite pictured in “Under the Midnight Moon,” from the Historic Sheet Music Collection, 1800-1922 in the Performing Arts Encylcopedia – please, call a cab. Celebrate New Year’s Day with the Bernsteins with this holiday greeting …
Posted in: Holidays, Sheet Music, Special Collections
Posted by: Pat Padua
The first time I read Edgar Allan Poe’s 1845 poem “The Bells,” I thought it was unusually upbeat for a work by the master of the macabre. But upon further reading, those clamorous consonants, that constant clanging, the “time, time, time,” and “tinkle, tinkle, tinkle” are entirely in line with the likes of “The Telltale …
Posted in: Holidays, Sheet Music
Posted by: Pat Padua
One year ago today, In the Muse launched with Meet the Music Division, a post that interviewed several staff members about their personal experience with Beatlemania. Since then, we’ve brought you news of Music Division events, including our world-renowned concert programs. We’ve highlighted a wide variety of treasures from the collection – from old maestros like Bach …
Posted in: Composers, Sheet Music, Special Collections
Posted by: Pat Padua
The Library of Congress just hosted the first of a new lecture series organized in conjunction with the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the contemporary art arm of the Smithsonian Institution. Artist Maira Kalman spoke about, And the Pursuit of Happiness, an illustrated book that documents the author’s visit to Washington DC for the inauguration of …
Posted in: Musicians, Sheet Music, Special Collections
Posted by: Pat Padua
In the Muse wishes you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving. Between mashed potatoes and halftime, the musically inclined among our readership may wish to celebrate the day in song with Geo. W. Morgan’s’ “National Thanksgiving Hymn,” dedicated to then President Rutherford B. Hayes. After dinner, take an invigorating constitutional to work off that second …
Posted in: Holidays, Sheet Music, Special Collections
Posted by: Pat Padua
“Music has charms to soothe a savage breast.” That famous line was uttered by a character in William Congreve’s 1697 play The Mourning Bride. From the dance of the ancient Greeks, to the propulsive bass on the disco floor, to Dancing with the Stars, music goes hand in hand with the body. One of the …
Posted in: Sheet Music, Special Collections
Posted by: Pat Padua
On this Veterans Day, take time to remember those who served our country with songs from Patriotic Melodies in the Performing Arts Encyclopedia, including “The Army Goes Rolling Along,” “The Marines’ Hymn” (Happy 235th birthday to the United States Marine Corps!), and ”The U.S. Air Force Song” (which you may know as “Off we go into the wild …
Posted in: Holidays, Sheet Music, Special Collections
Posted by: Pat Padua
The Music Division encourages stateside readers to exercise their right to vote. Today’s political climate may appear contentious, but perhaps a look at the campaign songs of elections past will put things into perspective. If past is prelude, come preview the next campaign season with a collection of Presidental Campaign Songs in the Performing Arts Encyclopedia. …
Posted in: Sheet Music, Special Collections
Posted by: Pat Padua
The following is the second part of a two-part guest post by Kevin Lavine, Senior Music Specialist. The vampire made its musical début on this side of the Atlantic in a slight piece for piano solo titled “Vampire Polka” (Boston, 1850), of unknown authorship (its composer is identified as “Four Eyes”), a work undoubtedly intended for performance …
Posted in: Sheet Music, Special Collections