The mention of late-eighteenth century Vienna frequently conjures thoughts of well-known composers like Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven. But since I joined a project reporting pre-1800 imprints and manuscripts to RISM (Répertoire International des Sources Musicales, an open-access database that lets you see which libraries have a certain published score or unique manuscript), I would like […]
Since publishing Leaves of Grass in June 1855, Walt Whitman and his poetry have captured the American imagination. Not until the early twentieth century, however, did composers begin to draw from and set to music Whitman’s work in earnest. Today, 200 years after Whitman’s birth, his settings have inspired over 500 composers to write over […]
The following is a guest post from Lara Szypszak, Reference Librarian in the Manuscript Division. Mary Hallock Greenewalt (1871-1950) was a musician, inventor, businesswoman, and all around go-getter, whose work leaves traces throughout several divisions of the Library of Congress, most prominently in the Manuscript and Music Divisions. Greenewalt was born in Bhamdoun, a small […]
On the 80th anniversary of the opening of the 1939 New York World’s Fair, discover primary sources in the Music Division that played starring roles in it all.
The Music Division is lucky to say that we have a 55-year history with the musical giant George Crumb. In honor of the DC premiere of our third commissioned work from George Crumb on April 18, let’s take a stroll down memory lane.
The following is a guest post by Anne McLean of the Music Division. Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Music Director Marin Alsop brings the BSO’s talented OrchKids to the Library on Saturday, April 13. Fans of all ages are cordially invited to an afternoon of performances honoring iconic jazz composers Jelly Roll Morton and Scott Joplin and […]
The following is a guest post from Dr. Katherine K. Preston, Professor Emerita at The College of William & Mary. Dr. Preston will be presenting “Americans’ Forgotten Love Affair with Opera” as part of the AMS/LC Lecture Series on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 7pm in the Madison Building’s Montpelier Room. The lecture is free […]
The following is a guest post from K. Mitchell “Mitch” Snow, a scholar-volunteer in the Music Division. Dance Archivist Libby Smigel introduces him. Last August the Music Division was delighted to receive a major gift of career papers from award-winning stage manager Maxine Glorsky. While the Library of Congress is widely regarded as the destination […]
The Music Division of the Library of Congress will be presenting a series of events exploring video game music, from retro bits to VR hits. We will be looking at the history of game music, and learning about how it works from acclaimed musicians who are actively composing for some of the biggest franchises and […]
The following is a guest post from Senior Music Cataloging Specialist Laura Yust. Laura’s post marks the final blog post in our Women’s History Month series that highlights selections from the Music Division’s digital collection Woman’s Suffrage in Sheet Music. The suffragists of the early 20th century faced organized opposition from the anti-suffragists, both men […]