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Posted by: Heather Darnell
The following is a guest post by Music Division Reference Librarian Dr. Stacey Jocoy. If you know the tunes to ”Greensleeves,” ”Lillibullero,” or just about any traditional British tune, you should thank John Playford (1623-1687). Known today primarily for the Playford Dances—originally published as ”The English Dancing Master” in 1650/1, Playford was the most important …
Posted in: Uncategorized
Posted by: Heather Darnell
It’s that time of the year when many Americans gather with their families to cut the turkey, gobble up pumpkin pie, and feel grateful for one another. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, let’s look at heartwarming photos our favorite artistic families from the Music Division’s Digital Collections: Sylvia Fine and Danny Kaye Sylvia Fine …
Posted in: Composers, Digital Collections, Holidays, Instrumentalists, Jewish American History, Latin American History, LGBTQ+, Musical Theater, Special Collections, Vocalists, Women in Music
Posted by: Libby Smigel
Are you an undergraduate, graduate, or recently graduated higher education student? If you’re also a U.S. citizen, check out the two unique 2024 Junior Fellows projects our staff have put together for this summer! Fellowships are paid full-time positions for 10 weeks. I’m excited to lead the in-person project Mind the Gap: Taking Stock of …
Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres
Learn more about the Music Division’s connection to the cult icon Vampira, as created by Maila Nurmi. The following is a guest post written by Morgan Davis, Music Reference Specialist, Music Division. About a year ago, documentarian R.H. Greene contacted the Music Division’s reference team in search of a photo from the Lester Horton Dance …
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 …
Posted in: Composers, Curators, Digital Collections, Research Guides, Sheet Music
Posted by: Claudia Morales
If there is a country that many South Americans love, it is Brazil. Its popular music and culture extend across its borders, offering a universal and common language for festiveness, as well as closeness and inner feelings. Brazilian music has also inspired and influenced American music and culture, which is evident in the National Recording …
Posted in: Composers, Concerts and Events, Dance, Instrumentalists, Jazz, Latin American History, Musicians, Women in Music
Posted by: Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres
The Music Division’s wide-ranging collections in music, dance, and theater offer countless points of connection for visitors, researchers, and musicians alike. One of the great joys of working in the Music Division is curating treasures displays for groups of students, touring musicians, and special guests. While the displays are always tailored to the interests or …
Posted in: Curators, Instrumentalists, Musical Theater, Musicians, Outreach, Special Collections
Posted by: Claudia Morales
By Claudia Morales Concert Producer, Music Division The Library of Congress is joining the Bachata dance craze and is hosting a free bachata class for all levels. On Thursday, August 3, professional dancer, choreographer, and studio owner Julissa Cruz will team up with DJ Hercules to lead a fantastic Bachata night. The class will take …
Posted in: Concerts and Events, Dance, Latin American History
Posted by: Morgen Stevens-Garmon
On December 3, 1947, A Streetcar Named Desire opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York City. It was the third full-length play by Tennessee Williams, a 36-year-old writer whose Broadway debut, The Glass Menagerie, was just two years earlier. Streetcar ran for more than two years clocking in at 855 performances, the longest …
Posted in: Composers, Dance, Film Music, Theater