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Posted by: Claudia Morales
Claudia Morales of the Music Division recounts the life and legacy of the "Salsa Queen," Celia Cruz, whose centennial of birth was commemorated this past October.
Posted in: Birthdays, Latin American History, Sheet Music, Special Collections, Vocalists, Women in Music
Posted by: Claudia Morales
Learn about 2024-2025 Library of Congress Jazz Scholar Willard Jenkins' time exploring the Music Division's jazz collections. Jenkins, who is the artistic director of the DC Jazz Festival, conducted research in the archives this spring and presented a lecture on "The Enduring Importance of Jazz Archives" on June 18, 2025.
Posted in: African American History, American history, Composers, Copyright Deposits, Jazz, Musicians, Sheet Music, Women in Music
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.
Posted in: American history, Arrangers, Composers, Concerts and Events, Conductors, Instrumentalists, Musicians, Sheet Music, Special Collections
Posted by: Cait Miller
Learn more about guidelines for transcribing sheet music collections as part of the By the People crowdsourced transcription campaign at the Library of Congress. Volunteers are needed to complete review of our "Sheet Music of the Musical Theater" transcription campaign in order to make the digital collection keyword searchable.
Posted in: By the People transcription campaigns, Musical Theater, Sheet Music
Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres
Explore the way Disney showcased the work of Mexican songwriters Manuel Esperón and Ernesto Cortár in several popular animated films in the 1940s as part of their effort to incorporate FDR's "Good Neighbor" policy. The effort resulted in sharing elements of mariachi music with American film audiences. This guest blog by Music Reference Specialist Stacey Jocoy draws on an insightful interview with ethnomusicologist and mariachi expert Dr. Lauryn Salazar (Associate Professor of Music, Tarleton State University).
Posted in: American history, Composers, Film Music, Latin American History, Sheet Music