Campaign Song Exhibit Opening

The Diehn Composers Room of the University Libraries presents “Of Thee I Sing: Politics through Song,” an exhibit that commemorates the 2008 presidential election year by canvassing campaign songs of former presidential candidates. The exhibit showcases a variety of campaign songs: songs that illuminate personality or accomplishments, songs scored by famous composers, songs adapted from Broadway musicals, songs that croon slander, notarize political corruption, chant social reform and much more. The first campaign song, the first great singing campaign, and other campaign song first appearances such as bilingual languages and candidates quotes are showcased along with presidential photographs, political cartoons, campaign scores, and more. All exhibit materials and items are from Diehn Composers Room and Perry Library collections.

The exhibit will be available for public viewing at the Diehn Composers Room, 189 Diehn Fine and Performing Arts Center, through April 30, 2009. Viewing is available at the Diehn Composers Room from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Funding for this exhibit is provided by a grant from the Norfolk Foundation.

For more information, contact Laura Y. Brown, Music Cataloger, at 757-683-4187