Sheet Music of the Week: See You Next Month Edition

"I won't be back till August," by Albert Gumble. New York: Jerome H. Remick & Co., 1910.

Composer Albert Gumble’s most popular song was  ”Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm,”  but his IMDB entry has a surprising series of credits: more than a dozen cartoon and comedy shorts, including the Bugs and Daffy vehicle “Duck! Rabbit! Duck!” These soundtrack listings come from Gumble and Bryan’s “Winter,” a popular musical cue for snowy cartoon scenes.  The songwriting team’s  ”I won’t be back till August” is in a decidedly summerlike vein, one that I’d be happy to trade  for snow right now.

I’ve shown this late Art Nouveau illustration,  by Frew,  to a number of people,  and their guesses as to the identity of those three vertical figures range from microphones (thanks Jan L.) to one-eyed Squidwards with antennae (thanks V).  I see veils.  Whatever they are, fauna or flora, I think it means we all need a vacation.  Thanks to fellow blogger Cait Miller for discovering this in Historic Sheet Music, 1800-1922 in the Performing Arts Encyclopeda.  In The Muse will be taking a much needed breather soon, but we promise to leave you in good hands.

 

Five Questions: Intern Edition

Thanks to Sharon McKinley, Senior Cataloging Specialist, for conducting these interviews with Carolyn Turner and Rachel Weiss, two of this summer’s crop of interns. What made you want to do a volunteer internship at the Library of Congress? Carolyn: My older sister Jessica was a Junior Fellow when I was twelve years old and she …

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Pic of the Week: Happy 100 Years, Ginger Rogers!

The following is a guest post from Reader Services Technician Melanie Guitreaux. Today would mark the 100th birthday of Ginger Rogers, a performer who emanated energy and romance and, together with her alluring partner Fred Astaire, struck the film world by storm. The world famous dancing duo dazzled audiences with their spectacular performances in “Top …

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Opera Goes to the Bastille

The following is a guest post from Senior Cataloging Specialist Sharon McKinley. Ah, Bastille Day! It’s a holiday that has such a nice, dramatic ring to it.  It commemorates the 1790 Fête de la Fédération, held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789. And for some reason, über-French though it may …

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Sheet Music of the Week: Sewing Machine – the Musical! Edition

The following is a guest post by Senior Cataloging Specialist Sharon McKinley. Elias Howe (July 9, 1819-Oct. 3, 1867) was the recipient, in 1846, of the first American patent for a sewing machine using a lockstitch design.  The new machines revolutionized the garment industry, giving rise to sweatshops, and ultimately to the International Ladies Garment Workers …

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The Music Division Goes to Eleven: June wrap-up Edition

In the Muse wonders how it got to be July already.  To mark the latest turn of the calendar page, we present the most viewed blog posts from June 2011. Thanks to Elizabeth Fulford Miller for providing web metrics. And now, from our home office atop Independence Avenue, the top eleven blog posts for June …

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And One for Mahler

It’s July 7 – Gustav Mahler’s 151st birthday! Instead of highlighting manuscripts or correspondence by Mahler, I’d like instead to point out another composer/conductor’s commentary on Mahler, as provided in one of Leonard Bernstein’s Young People’s Concert scripts, Who is Gustav Mahler? The script, along with all other scripts for the Young People’s Concert broadcasts, …

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