While every week at the Library offers something exciting for visitors, researchers and staff, there are certain occasions (like this week) when there is a confluence of musical activity that should perk up everyone's ears. Three major events will grace the Coolidge Auditorium stage, featuring a Broadway and film star, a stellar vocal group that features graduates of the Thomanerchor in Leipzig (that's the chorus that J.S. Bach led at Thomaskirche) and a blockbuster evening of chamber music with the Belcea and Ébène Quartets. Attendees of each event will have a unique chance to see items from the Music Division's collections.
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.
On Friday, October 18, the Music Division had the honor of presenting 10-time Grammy winner, NEA Jazz Master, “El Sonero Mayor,” American pianist, composer, arranger, band leader and social activist, Mr. Eddie Palmieri. In 1975, Palmieri won the first-ever Grammy in the category of Best Latin Music Recording with his album “The Sun of …
This year we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Arnold Schoenberg’s birth. The Library of Congress is the home to nearly all of Schoenberg’s music for string quartet, and over the course of two concerts given by the superb Quatuor Diotima, we will explore most of what we have, including: String Quartet in D major (1897) …
The Library of Congress celebrates the opening of the Henry Mancini Archive with a special concert featuring Monica Mancini and husband Gregg Field, and the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra of the Frost School of Music at the University Of Miami, conducted by Scott Flavin.
After much anticipation, we are excited to unveil our Fall 2024 Centennial Season, featuring a remarkable lineup of groundbreaking commissions, vibrant musical celebrations, and heartfelt tributes to iconic artists. The 2024-2025 season is the centerpiece of our commemoration of the 100th birthday of Concerts from the Library of Congress. Join us as we honor a …
The 2023-2024 season of Concerts from the Library of Congress came to a rousing conclusion on June 20 with a performance by New Orleans-based band Cha Wa. As final preparations are made for the 2024-2025 season announcement, the Music Division is pleased to share a multitude of concert and event videos that have been released …
The Zéphyros Winds will be joined by Audrey Andrist tomorrow (June 15, 2024) in a concert of mid-century works featuring the music of Irving Fine, whose collection resides at the Library of Congress. As an advocate of the wind quintet medium, I am particularly excited that this program will include the premiere of a new …
On May 9, 2024, composer/pianist Vijay Iyer and violinist Curtis Stewart of PUBLIQuartet performed the world premiere of Iyer’s What Isn’t Hard to See at the Library of Congress. The work was commissioned by the McKim Fund at the Library of Congress, which supports the performance and commissioning of works for violin and piano by …