The following is a guest post by Sharon McKinley, Senior Music Cataloger. The blossoms themselves have been gone for weeks already; it was one of the earliest seasons ever. But the Centennial of the National Cherry Blossom Festival is still going strong, all the way through April 27, and we thought we’d help keep the …
The following is a guest post from Music Cataloger Laura Yust. One hundred years ago, on April 14, 1912, the luxury steamship Titanic struck an iceberg and sank within just a few hours. Over 3,000 passengers and crew members were on board, and just over half of them died. It was one of the worst …
In the Muse presumes that the stereotyped Germans pictured in this illustration to Paul Rubens’ composition, “The German cake walk” are simply performing the titular dance. But the action in this scene is potentially ambiguous. Is the mustachioed man running away from an amorous Fraulein, or simply leading her in an impromptu march? Why does …
In the days before Skype and IMs, human communication over great distances was transmitted in a charmingly antiquated manner. In this week’s featured Sheet Music, the singer reassures his far away beloved that “I think I’ve found a way/We can spoon each day.” “Shut your eyes and make believe” was transmitted from the pens of …
Next Tuesday the annual DC Elephant Walk comes back to Capitol Hill, and with it comes the circus! Last year In the Muse rose to the occasion with “The Baby Elephant March.” This week we bring you Albert Gumble and Jack Yellen’s “Circus Day in Dixie,” a song once performed by vaudeville star Blossom Seely. …
In Washington, meteorological spring came in like a lamb. In the Muse would like to take this fair-weather opportunity to revisit last week’s bicycle theme with M. Florence’s “Bloomer March,” which if the illustration is to be believed, conveys the fin de siècle pleasures of riding a bicycle while dressed in bloomers. Florence dedicates the …
The following is a guest post from Archivist Janet McKinney. Before becoming an archivist I had the privilege of working as a Junior Fellow contributing records to It’s Showtime! Sheet Music from Stage and Screen, our database of excerpts from operas, musicals, revues, and films. As part of the Junior Fellow program, we were able …
The past couple of years we’ve taken time out on Valentine’s Day to highlight love songs and love letters from the Music Division’s collections; however, Valentine’s Day is not exactly everyone’s favorite day of the year. I scoured our digitized sheet music for a selection that might speak to those who are not in love, the …
The following is a guest post from Head of Acquisitions & Processing Denise Gallo. Today marks the 192nd birthday of Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman. Born into an Ohio family steeped in law and politics, Sherman was at various points in his life a banker, lawyer, and president of a streetcar company. He is remembered above …
I’m sure there are plenty of In the Muse readers who share my love for the hit series Downton Abbey airing on PBS (am I right?). Every week I tune in to the addictive British period drama and a couple of weeks ago I swooned during that wonderful closing scene where Lady Mary sings “If …