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Category: Digital Collections

Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge standing with Erick Hawkins to her left and Martha Graham to her right. The dancers wear their costumes from "Appalachian Spring."

Happy 160th Birthday, Mrs. Coolidge!

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.

Serge Koussevitzky in center cuts into his birthday cake with a knife. Leonard Bernstein and Lukas Foss stand on either side.

A Maestro for the Ages: Serge Koussevitzky at 150

Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres

The Library of Congress Music Division and Koussevitzky Music Foundation commemorate Serge Koussevitzky's 150th birthday with new commissions, the launch of a digital collection, a collaboration with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and more. Learn about this legendary composer and conductor who is responsible for commissioning and premiering many 20th century masterworks, including music by Leonard Bernstein, Béla Bartók, Benjamin Britten, and more.

Photograph of four young musicians playing French Horn during a rehearsal at Interlochen. Black and white photo.

Horn Trios for Spring Days

Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres

The Concerts from the Library of Congress series embarks on a two-day immersion into the horn trio repertoire this coming weekend. Per usual, we’re pulling out all the stops, with the help of the distinguished Takt Trio (Austin Wulliman, violin, David Byrd-Marrow, horn, and Conor Hanick, piano). Two Library of Congress commissions will receive their …

Saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin performing on an alto saxophone in the Coolidge Auditorium. Wearing a gold jacket and white top.

Now Streaming: January 2024 Edition

Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres

The Library of Congress is proud to offer free digital programming from its collections for the enjoyment of audiences that are not able to attend our live events in Washington, D.C. The Music Division works with colleagues throughout the Library to ensure that past events in the Concerts from the Library of Congress series, educational …

Leonard Bernstein pictured on the right in a black tuxedo with red pocket square greeting Vice President Walter Mondale (in a black tuxedo), First Lady Rosalynn Carter (in a light colored dress), and President Jimmy Carter (in a black tuxedo). In the background are Lenny's mother Jennie Bernstein and a White House military aide in Navy dress uniform).

Remembering First Lady Rosalynn Carter & Leonard Bernstein

Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres

While our nation continues to mourn the loss of First Lady Rosalynn Carter (1927-2023), here in the Music Division, we are reflecting on her lasting relationships with artists, performers, and creators, both during her time in The White House and the decades that followed. America’s civic leaders cross paths with many of the leading musicians, …

Cover of sheet music for "Batterin' Babe", blue and white text with image of Babe Ruth swinging and hitting a ball while in a Red Sox uniform.

Baseball Beats: Music for the Fall Classic

Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres

We have several serious baseball fans here in the Music Division. At least several members of our team root for the current hometown Washington Nationals (“N-A-T-S, Nats, Nats, Nats, woo!”), the neighboring Baltimore Orioles (“Let’s Go, O’s!”), and the handful of New England transplants are ardent Boston Red Sox fans. With all this baseball energy …

Engraving of two individuals playing stringed instruments.

Exploring the Music Division’s Collection of 15th-17th Century Anthologies with Susan Clermont

Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres

Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres, Stacey Jocoy, and Susan Clermont of the Music Division contributed to this blog. Senior Music Reference Specialist Susan Clermont recently published an authoritative annotated bibliography and accompanying research guide focused on the Music Division’s 306 anthologies of music dating from 1463 – 1701. These anthologies comprise over 12,000 individual works by over …

Woman with dark hair, fancy dress and pearls with eyes closed and mouth slightly open, singing

Pride in the Library: LGBTQ+ Voices in the Library’s Collections

Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres

This is a guest post by Meg Metcalf, women’s, gender and LGBTQ+ studies librarian in the Main Reading Room. It was originally posted on the Library of Congress Blog. The collections of the Library of Congress tell the rich and diverse story of LGBTQ+ life in America and around the world. To share this story, …