Conversation with Loadbang, Christopher Otto and Ning Yu
Members of loadbang join violinist/composer Christopher Otto, pianist Ning Yu, have a discussion with David Plylar about their concert at the Library. Loadbang, a quartet for bass clarinet, trumpet, trombone and baritone voice, performed works by Sebastian Currier, Hilda Paredes, Michael Finnissy, and Laura Cetilia. The works by Currier and Finnissy were commissioned by the Koussevitzky Foundation in the Library of Congress, and the…
Contributor:
Bouque, Ty - Yu, Ning - Otto, Christopher - Plylar, David - Kozar, Andy
Date:2025-05-30
Film, Video
Inside the Dictionary and the Scripps National Spelling Bee
On the 100th anniversary of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Merriam-Webster editor-at-large Peter Sokolowski explored the history of English spelling, the evolution of language in popular culture epitomized by the famous "Word of the Year" and long tradition of dictionary making that continues to this day with the Merriam-Webster Unabridged. The event included an audience Q&A.
Contributor:
Becker, Molly - Sokolowski, Peter
Date:2025-05-22
Film, Video
Conversation with Brigitta Muntendorf and Ning Yu
Composer Brigitta Muntendorf and pianist Ning Yu speak with David Plylar about Muntendorf's Trilogy for two pianos, tape and live electronics. The interview preceded a performance of Trilogy at the Library on May 31, 2025, featuring pianists Ning Yu and Cory Smythe with Levy Lorenzo managing the live electronics. The discussion delved into the processes of composition and performance and how electronics and choreography…
Contributor:
Muntendorf, Brigitta - Plylar, David - Yu, Ning
Date:2025-05-21
Film, Video
Susana Behar Ensemble
Susana Behar was born in Havana to a Cuban family with roots in the Sephardic community of Turkey. From an early age, she was immersed in the traditional music of her homeland as well as the evocative kantikas in Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) passed down by her grandparents. In 1965 she emigrated to Venezuela, where she started to explore and perform the music of her adoptive…
Contributor:
Behar, Susana
Date:2025-05-21
Film, Video
The Medical Carnivalesque: Folklore Among Physicians with Lisa Gabbert
This lecture provides an overview of the occupational folklore that exists among physicians in the United States today. Much of this folklore is humorous; it can also be earthy and even quite dark. Gabbert focuses on folklore that emerges in physician-to-physician communication, arguing that the content and themes that emerge are strikingly parallel to the ones identified by Mikhail Bakhtin in his concept of…
Contributor:
Gabbert, Lisa
Date:2025-05-20
Film, Video
Conversation with Ensemble Sangineto
Ensemble Sangineto is one of the most popular folk groups on the Italian scene, comprised of three talented singers and instrumentalists. Adriano and Caterina Sangineto are twins; Adriano plays Celtic harp and Caterina plays bowed psaltery and flute. Jacopo Ventura rounds out the trio on guitar and bouzouki. The group sings in three-part harmony, with Caterina's clear voice taking the lead. The Sanginetos are…
Ensemble Sangineto: Traditional Music from Italy
The ensemble Sangineto is one of the most popular folk groups on the Italian scene, comprised of three talented singers and instrumentalists. Adriano and Caterina Sangineto are twins -- Adriano plays Celtic harp and Caterina plays bowed psaltery. Jacopo Ventura rounds out the trio on guitar. The group sings in three-part harmony, with Caterina's clear voice taking the lead. The Sanginetos are children of…
Unveiling the Secret War in Laos with US Allied Lao and CIA Veterans
Veterans from the "secret war" in Laos recalled their experiences during the Vietnam War. Laos was a key battlefield in the conflict as the Ho Chi Minh Trail transited the country. Lao Special Guerrilla Unit/Royal Lao Army soldiers fought along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, serving as "Road Watch" teams and in large-unit actions against the People's Army of Vietnam, allied with US Central…
Contributor:
Pahn, Michael - Wolfson-Ford, Ryan - Insixiengmay, Khao - Thiravong, Touy - Taylor, Larry S. - Bruton, James K. - Caolo, Susan - Gilstrap, Osa Phiangdae - Briggs, Thomas Leo
Date:2025-05-09
Film, Video
Exploring Map Surrounds: Sights on Spice
Art historian Juliet Wiersema and preservation specialist Meghan Hill present a historical and material exploration of William Hacke's "A Description of the Sea Coasts ... East Indies."
Contributor:
Wiersema, Juliet - Hill, Meghan - Mattson, Lena
Contributor:
Duzer, Chet Van - St. Onge, Timothy - Pastuch, Carissa
Date:2025-05-08
Film, Video
Moroccan-Jewish Musical Memory: The Abraham Pinto Collection
On October 5, 1968, Abraham Pinto, a businessman from New York City originally from Tangier, Morocco, offered the Library of Congress a collection of tapes containing approximately 30 hours of Jewish liturgical music recordings, which he had undertaken on his own initiative. These recordings later became part of the Library's American Folklife Center collections. This lecture provides an overview of the interaction between Pinto…
Contributor:
Bitton, Yoram - Seroussi, Edwin
Date:2025-05-08
Film, Video
Two 19th Century Board Games
What does it mean to win the game of life? Children's board games teach cultural values and measurements of success to a society's youngest members. A comparison of these two 19th century board games, one from 1843 and one from 1889, reveal the cultural shift that occurred in the United States during the second half of the 19th century.
Contributor:
Coleburn, Jackie
Date:2025-05-05
Film, Video
Conversation with Somi
Claudia Morales sat down in conversation with Grammy-nominated vocalist, composer and bandleader Somi Kakoma, known professionally as Somi. A Doris Duke Foundation Artist Award recipient and NAACP Image Award winner, Somi spoke about her musical journey, artistic connection to Miriam Makeba, and her work across the African continent.
Contributor:
Morales, Claudia - Somi
Date:2025-05-01
Film, Video
Federal Public Service Recognition Week: Zhi Huang
For Public Service Recognition 2025 at the Library of Congress, Zhi Huang, a patron education and training specialist, shares how the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled makes sure reading resources are equitable for all people with low vision, blindness or a physical reading disability.
Contributor:
Huang, Zhi
Date:2025-04-30
Film, Video
Federal Public Service Recognition Week: Trey Robertson
For Public Service Recognition 2025 at the Library of Congress, Trey Robertson, a registration supervisor, shared the vision that U.S. Copyright has with helping the future generation continue to excel in an ever-changing digital landscape.
Contributor:
Robertson, Trey
Date:2025-04-30
Film, Video
Federal Public Service Recognition Week: Paul Frank
For Public Service Recognition 2025 at the Library of Congress, cataloging specialist Paul Frank, shared his work behind the scenes in connecting the parts of the Library as well as telling us about the Library continuing to be a world leader.
Contributor:
Frank, Paul
Date:2025-04-30
Film, Video
James Monroe as Diplomat and Scholar
Decades prior to becoming our nation's fifth President, James Monroe served the United States as Minister to France. During his time in Paris, he purchased a rare book about Roman history that he referenced later in life, during his retirement, as he wrote a book about the history of republican governments.
Contributor:
Hastings, Patrick
Date:2025-04-28
Film, Video
Early American Almanacs
In the American Colonies, pocket sized almanacs outsold all other types of books combined. These little books were handy, everyday tools in print, providing readers with weather predictions, the dates of important religious and civic events, business resources, medical guidance, and informative essays. Benjamin Franklin achieved economic security by writing and publishing Poor Richard's Almanac, and we even have an almanac used by George…
Contributor:
Hastings, Patrick
Date:2025-04-28
Film, Video
Conversation with the Horszowski Trio
Violinist Jesse Mills of the Horszowski Trio spoke with David Plylar about the Horszowski Trio's performance at the Library. Topics included the music of Rebecca Clarke, Franz Schubert and Charles Wuorinen. The group played both of Wuorinen's trios, the second of which was written for them, and received its premiere at the Library of Congress.
Contributor:
Mills, Jesse - Plylar, David
Date:2025-04-26
Film, Video
The 4 B's: Beethoven, Brahms and Bach-Busoni
David Plylar speaks about various ways to approach listening to the music featured on Hélène Grimaud's performance at the Library in April 2025. Topics include Beethoven's op. 109 sonata in E major, Brahms' op. 116 Fantasies, and Busoni's transcription for piano of Bach's famous Chaconne for solo violin.
Contributor:
Plylar, David
Date:2025-04-25
Film, Video
Porgy and Bess 90th Anniversary
The Library of Congress and Washington National Opera celebrate the 90th anniversary of George and Ira Gershwin's landmark work "Porgy and Bess." Artists of the Washington National Opera perform selections from "Porgy and Bess," and hear a discussion about the history and impact of this iconic American work for the stage.
Contributor:
Walker, Angela Powell - Cambridge, Alyson - Vita, Susan H. - White, Raymond A. - O'Leary, Timothy - Mills, Marvin - Smith Jr., Reginald
Date:2025-04-23
Film, Video
Poet Laureate Closing Event with Ada Limón
To conclude her historic two-term, three-year appointment as U.S. Poet Laureate, Ada Limón talked about the art of poetry. Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry at the Library of Congress from 2022-2025, Ada Limón is the author of six books of poetry-including "The Carrying," which won the National Book Critics Circle Award. Her book "Bright Dead Things" was nominated for the National Book Award, the…
Contributor:
Limón, Ada - Hayden, Carla
Date:2025-04-17
Film, Video
Discover Gilded Age Treasures in the Richard Hunt Collection
Author Sam Watters offers an introduction of the Hunt Collection at the Library of Congress, assembled by Richard Morris Hunt (1827-1895), renowned American architect of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Vanderbilt family mansions, and his wife, shipping heiress Catharine Howland Hunt (1841-1909). See some of the 15,000 rare books, drawings, photos, sketchbooks and large-scale scrapbooks the couple collected and created over 50 years,…
Contributor:
Watters, Sam - Zinkham, Helena
Date:2025-04-17
Film, Video
The Aztecs in Their Own Words
What did the Aztecs say about themselves when they were speaking their own language and writing for their own people? In such sources, the picture of them that emerges is profoundly different than Spanish colonial sources. Camilla Townsend, Jay I. Kislak Chair for the Study of the History and Cultures of the Early Americas, explores this topic in the annual Kislak Lecture at the…
Contributor:
Butterfield, Kevin - Townsend, Camilla
Date:2025-04-16
Film, Video
The Goddard Declaration of Independence
In January of 1777, after evacuating Philadelphia for Baltimore, the Continental Congress commissioned Mary Katharine Goddard to print a second issue of the Declaration of Independence. This time, those who signed the Declaration in July of 1776 reasserted their commitment to the cause of Independence by allowing their names to be printed on the broadside. Mary Katharine Goddard put her name in print, too.
Film, VideoConversation with Loadbang, Christopher Otto and Ning Yu Members of loadbang join violinist/composer Christopher Otto, pianist Ning Yu, have a discussion with David Plylar about their concert at the Library. Loadbang, a quartet for bass clarinet, trumpet, trombone and baritone voice, performed works by Sebastian Currier, Hilda Paredes, Michael Finnissy, and Laura Cetilia. The works by Currier and Finnissy were commissioned by the Koussevitzky Foundation in the Library of Congress, and the…
Film, VideoInside the Dictionary and the Scripps National Spelling Bee On the 100th anniversary of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Merriam-Webster editor-at-large Peter Sokolowski explored the history of English spelling, the evolution of language in popular culture epitomized by the famous "Word of the Year" and long tradition of dictionary making that continues to this day with the Merriam-Webster Unabridged. The event included an audience Q&A.
Film, VideoConversation with Brigitta Muntendorf and Ning Yu Composer Brigitta Muntendorf and pianist Ning Yu speak with David Plylar about Muntendorf's Trilogy for two pianos, tape and live electronics. The interview preceded a performance of Trilogy at the Library on May 31, 2025, featuring pianists Ning Yu and Cory Smythe with Levy Lorenzo managing the live electronics. The discussion delved into the processes of composition and performance and how electronics and choreography…
Film, VideoSusana Behar Ensemble Susana Behar was born in Havana to a Cuban family with roots in the Sephardic community of Turkey. From an early age, she was immersed in the traditional music of her homeland as well as the evocative kantikas in Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) passed down by her grandparents. In 1965 she emigrated to Venezuela, where she started to explore and perform the music of her adoptive…
Film, VideoThe Medical Carnivalesque: Folklore Among Physicians with Lisa Gabbert This lecture provides an overview of the occupational folklore that exists among physicians in the United States today. Much of this folklore is humorous; it can also be earthy and even quite dark. Gabbert focuses on folklore that emerges in physician-to-physician communication, arguing that the content and themes that emerge are strikingly parallel to the ones identified by Mikhail Bakhtin in his concept of…
Film, VideoConversation with Ensemble Sangineto Ensemble Sangineto is one of the most popular folk groups on the Italian scene, comprised of three talented singers and instrumentalists. Adriano and Caterina Sangineto are twins; Adriano plays Celtic harp and Caterina plays bowed psaltery and flute. Jacopo Ventura rounds out the trio on guitar and bouzouki. The group sings in three-part harmony, with Caterina's clear voice taking the lead. The Sanginetos are…
Film, VideoEnsemble Sangineto: Traditional Music from Italy The ensemble Sangineto is one of the most popular folk groups on the Italian scene, comprised of three talented singers and instrumentalists. Adriano and Caterina Sangineto are twins -- Adriano plays Celtic harp and Caterina plays bowed psaltery. Jacopo Ventura rounds out the trio on guitar. The group sings in three-part harmony, with Caterina's clear voice taking the lead. The Sanginetos are children of…
Film, VideoUnveiling the Secret War in Laos with US Allied Lao and CIA Veterans Veterans from the "secret war" in Laos recalled their experiences during the Vietnam War. Laos was a key battlefield in the conflict as the Ho Chi Minh Trail transited the country. Lao Special Guerrilla Unit/Royal Lao Army soldiers fought along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, serving as "Road Watch" teams and in large-unit actions against the People's Army of Vietnam, allied with US Central…
Film, VideoExploring Map Surrounds: Sights on Spice Art historian Juliet Wiersema and preservation specialist Meghan Hill present a historical and material exploration of William Hacke's "A Description of the Sea Coasts ... East Indies."
Film, VideoExploring Map Surrounds: Drawing Identity Philip Lee Phillips Society fellow Chet Van Duzer discussed cartographic self-portraits in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Film, VideoMoroccan-Jewish Musical Memory: The Abraham Pinto Collection On October 5, 1968, Abraham Pinto, a businessman from New York City originally from Tangier, Morocco, offered the Library of Congress a collection of tapes containing approximately 30 hours of Jewish liturgical music recordings, which he had undertaken on his own initiative. These recordings later became part of the Library's American Folklife Center collections. This lecture provides an overview of the interaction between Pinto…
Film, VideoTwo 19th Century Board Games What does it mean to win the game of life? Children's board games teach cultural values and measurements of success to a society's youngest members. A comparison of these two 19th century board games, one from 1843 and one from 1889, reveal the cultural shift that occurred in the United States during the second half of the 19th century.
Film, VideoConversation with Somi Claudia Morales sat down in conversation with Grammy-nominated vocalist, composer and bandleader Somi Kakoma, known professionally as Somi. A Doris Duke Foundation Artist Award recipient and NAACP Image Award winner, Somi spoke about her musical journey, artistic connection to Miriam Makeba, and her work across the African continent.
Film, VideoFederal Public Service Recognition Week: Zhi Huang For Public Service Recognition 2025 at the Library of Congress, Zhi Huang, a patron education and training specialist, shares how the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled makes sure reading resources are equitable for all people with low vision, blindness or a physical reading disability.
Film, VideoFederal Public Service Recognition Week: Trey Robertson For Public Service Recognition 2025 at the Library of Congress, Trey Robertson, a registration supervisor, shared the vision that U.S. Copyright has with helping the future generation continue to excel in an ever-changing digital landscape.
Film, VideoFederal Public Service Recognition Week: Paul Frank For Public Service Recognition 2025 at the Library of Congress, cataloging specialist Paul Frank, shared his work behind the scenes in connecting the parts of the Library as well as telling us about the Library continuing to be a world leader.
Film, VideoJames Monroe as Diplomat and Scholar Decades prior to becoming our nation's fifth President, James Monroe served the United States as Minister to France. During his time in Paris, he purchased a rare book about Roman history that he referenced later in life, during his retirement, as he wrote a book about the history of republican governments.
Film, VideoEarly American Almanacs In the American Colonies, pocket sized almanacs outsold all other types of books combined. These little books were handy, everyday tools in print, providing readers with weather predictions, the dates of important religious and civic events, business resources, medical guidance, and informative essays. Benjamin Franklin achieved economic security by writing and publishing Poor Richard's Almanac, and we even have an almanac used by George…
Film, VideoConversation with the Horszowski Trio Violinist Jesse Mills of the Horszowski Trio spoke with David Plylar about the Horszowski Trio's performance at the Library. Topics included the music of Rebecca Clarke, Franz Schubert and Charles Wuorinen. The group played both of Wuorinen's trios, the second of which was written for them, and received its premiere at the Library of Congress.
Film, VideoThe 4 B's: Beethoven, Brahms and Bach-Busoni David Plylar speaks about various ways to approach listening to the music featured on Hélène Grimaud's performance at the Library in April 2025. Topics include Beethoven's op. 109 sonata in E major, Brahms' op. 116 Fantasies, and Busoni's transcription for piano of Bach's famous Chaconne for solo violin.
Film, VideoPorgy and Bess 90th Anniversary The Library of Congress and Washington National Opera celebrate the 90th anniversary of George and Ira Gershwin's landmark work "Porgy and Bess." Artists of the Washington National Opera perform selections from "Porgy and Bess," and hear a discussion about the history and impact of this iconic American work for the stage.
Film, VideoPoet Laureate Closing Event with Ada Limón To conclude her historic two-term, three-year appointment as U.S. Poet Laureate, Ada Limón talked about the art of poetry. Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry at the Library of Congress from 2022-2025, Ada Limón is the author of six books of poetry-including "The Carrying," which won the National Book Critics Circle Award. Her book "Bright Dead Things" was nominated for the National Book Award, the…
Film, VideoDiscover Gilded Age Treasures in the Richard Hunt Collection Author Sam Watters offers an introduction of the Hunt Collection at the Library of Congress, assembled by Richard Morris Hunt (1827-1895), renowned American architect of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Vanderbilt family mansions, and his wife, shipping heiress Catharine Howland Hunt (1841-1909). See some of the 15,000 rare books, drawings, photos, sketchbooks and large-scale scrapbooks the couple collected and created over 50 years,…
Film, VideoThe Aztecs in Their Own Words What did the Aztecs say about themselves when they were speaking their own language and writing for their own people? In such sources, the picture of them that emerges is profoundly different than Spanish colonial sources. Camilla Townsend, Jay I. Kislak Chair for the Study of the History and Cultures of the Early Americas, explores this topic in the annual Kislak Lecture at the…
Film, VideoThe Goddard Declaration of Independence In January of 1777, after evacuating Philadelphia for Baltimore, the Continental Congress commissioned Mary Katharine Goddard to print a second issue of the Declaration of Independence. This time, those who signed the Declaration in July of 1776 reasserted their commitment to the cause of Independence by allowing their names to be printed on the broadside. Mary Katharine Goddard put her name in print, too.