Library Commissions Seven New Musical Works
The Library of Congress, through the Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation, has tapped seven composers to receive commissions for new musical pieces.
The winners include: Claude Baker and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra; Gregory D’Alessio and the Cleveland Chamber Symphony; Magnus Lindberg and the Los Angeles Philharmonic; Hyo-shin Na and the San Jose Chamber Orchestra; Wayne Peterson and Earplay; Alvin Singleton and the American Composers Orchestra; and Scott Wheeler and the New England String Ensemble.
The commission is funded in part by the organizations that will perform the musical works.
Manuscripts of the commissioned works are kept in the Library’s Music Division.
Library Exhibit Honors Printmaker Blackburn
The Library of Congress opens its exhibition, “Creative Space: Fifty Years of Robert Blackburn’s Printmaking Workshop,” on Feb. 26.
The exhibit honors Blackburn, who founded a printmaking workshop in New York City in 1948 and is considered a pioneer of abstract color lithography.
Sixty pieces of artwork, including both Blackburn’s as well as those of Will Barnet, Romare Bearden, Kathy Caraccio, Ronald Joseph, Mohammed Khalil, Faith Ringgold and Juan Sanchez, will be on display in the North Gallery of the Thomas Jefferson Building’s Great Hall through June 28.
The exhibition is co-sponsored by the International Print Center New York and the Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts.
Music Specialist Discusses New Book on Sondheim
The Library of Congress will host Mark Eden Horowitz on Feb. 11 to discuss his newly published book, “Sondheim on Music: Minor Details and Major Decisions.”
The lecture, which begins at noon in the Mary Pickford Theater of the James Madison Building, is part of the Center for the Book’s “Books & Beyond” author series.
Horowitz, a senior music specialist for the Library, wrote the book based on three days of interviews conducted with composer Stephen Sondheim in 1997. The book also includes a list of Sondheim’s musical works and publishing information for each.
The author will sign copies of his book following the lecture. Admission is free, but reservations are recommended. Call (202) 707-5221 for information.
— Jennifer Yachnin