Many Americans might think that the hymn "Amazing Grace" was written in the United States, but in fact it was penned in 1779 in England. The song is without a doubt one of the best-known hymns in the United States, and this lovely site, created by the Library of Congress's Performing Arts Digital Library, explores the history behind this song. Visitors should definitely start by looking at the...

Take a tour of African American music through the ages. As part of Carnegie Hall’s Honor! A Celebration of the African American Cultural Legacy exhibit, Portia K. Maultsby’s timeline of African American music illustrates the dynamic flow of genres from the sacred and secular traditions of the 17th century to the hip-hop, techno, and new jazz swing movements of today. Click on any of the genres to...

The Beethoven-Haus was founded in 1889; the complex in Bonn brings together Beethoven's birthplace with a concert hall and a research center. This website brings together over 6,100 documents, 1,600 files, and 7,600 text files that tell the story of this masterful composer and musician. A good place to start is the Highlights area, where visitors can look over versions of the Pastoral Symphony,...

Over the past few years, more and more university libraries have worked diligently to digitize some of their vast sheet music holdings. Old chestnuts are being revived by vocal groups on campus and farther afield, which is certainly a good thing. This sheet music collection from the Temple University Libraries brings together 850 pieces of music for consideration by the general public. Visitors...