Lizzo

A classically trained flutist, the singer, rapper and songwriter spent more than three hours admiring the flute collection at the Library of Congress.

Hayden and staff members ushered her into the “flute vault,” and gave her a tour of the collection, which includes fifes, piccolos and a flute shaped like a walking stick, which Lizzo said she might want as a Christmas present. “Just the enthusiasm that Lizzo brought to seeing the flute collection and how curious she was about it,” Ms. “It’s not clear if Madison did much with the flute other than admire it, but it became a family heirloom and an artifact of the era,” Laurent’s glass flutes remain, the library said, and his crystal flutes are especially rare. As the crowd roared, Lizzo played a note, stuck out her tongue in amazement, and then played another note, trilling it as she twerked in front of thousands of cheering fans. Lizzo arrived on Monday, with her mother and members of her band. “It’s been wonderful.” She then carried the flute over her head, giving the crowd at Capital One Arena one last look, before handing it back to Ms. “I’m scared,” Lizzo said, as she took the sparkling instrument from Carol Lynn Ward-Bamford, a curator at the Library of Congress, who had carefully removed the flute from its customized protective case. [Virginia plantation](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/22/us/montpelier-estate-board-enslaved.html) was built by enslaved Black workers. The moment came together after Dr. Madison’s instrument was made for the second inauguration by a Parisian craftsman.

The Library of Congress granted the Grammy-award winning artist the opportunity to play James Madison's 1813 crystal flute on stage at her Washington DC concert ...

"You didn't think Lizzo played that antique flute on stage without practising first, did you?" "Nobody has ever heard this famous crystal flute before. Now you have!" "The Library of Congress has the largest flute collection in the world with more than 1,800, including President James Madison's 1813 crystal flute," she wrote. In later years, he was referred to as the "Father of the Constitution." The Library of Congress granted the Grammy-award winning artist the opportunity to play James Madison's 1813 crystal flute on stage at her Washington DC concert.

The Library of Congress had invited Lizzo to check out its flute collection during her tour stop. On Tuesday, she played a few notes on the historic ...

The Library of Congress also dropped a hint about its celebrity visitor, [tweeting a photo](https://twitter.com/librarycongress/status/1574912334769840128?s=20&t=Bfr7x3jPsfloIXbxtYMNyQ) of a sign with Lizzo's picture and a piece of tape reading, in all caps, "flute guest." [playing the flute since she was in grade school](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/extended-interview-lizzo-on-her-flute-and-being-a-band-geek/), first learning by ear and then in private lessons (she initially dreamed of becoming a concert flautist before getting into rap and singing). "B***h, I just twerked and played James Madison's crystal flute from the 1800s," she exclaimed. In the meantime, D.C. After that she returned the instrument and ran back to the mic. the audience took pride in that." "It was so uniquely a moment that could only happen in D.C. It says it's possible that the flute was one of a handful of valuables that former first lady Dolley Madison took with her from the White House as she fled just before [British troops set fire to Washington, D.C.](https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/August_Burning_Washington.htm), in 1814. She played another trill while twerking to the beat, as the audience roared. president and confirmed by the Senate). At least one other person has played it before, as [NPR reported in 2001](https://www.npr.org/2001/03/16/1120053/madisons-crystal-flute). With a lot of security, is the short answer.

Singer Lizzo declared “history is freaking cool” as she played US Founding Father James Madison's 200-year-old crystal flute while twerking on stage.

“Actually, it’s not just for the sake of it. They degrade our history and then call you racist if you actually value it.” Actually, it's not just for the sake of it. Hayden tweeted at Lizzo ahead of her D.C. She then played another trill while twerking to the adoring audience’s applause. [the microphone](https://twitter.com/lizzo/status/1575003731640274944).

The Library of Congress had invited Lizzo to check out its flute collection during her tour stop. On Tuesday, she played a few notes on the historic ...

Lizzo said she was the first person to play the flute. The Library of Congress also dropped a hint about its celebrity visitor, [tweeting a photo](https://twitter.com/librarycongress/status/1574912334769840128?s=20&t=Bfr7x3jPsfloIXbxtYMNyQ) of a sign with Lizzo's picture and a piece of tape reading, in all caps, "flute guest." [playing the flute since she was in grade school](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/extended-interview-lizzo-on-her-flute-and-being-a-band-geek/), first learning by ear and then in private lessons (she initially dreamed of becoming a concert flautist before getting into rap and singing). "B***h, I just twerked and played James Madison's crystal flute from the 1800s," she exclaimed. After that she returned the instrument and ran back to the mic. the audience took pride in that." "It was so uniquely a moment that could only happen in D.C. It says it's possible that the flute was one of a handful of valuables that former first lady Dolley Madison took with her from the White House as she fled just before [British troops set fire to Washington, D.C.](https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/August_Burning_Washington.htm), in 1814. She played another trill while twerking to the beat, as the audience roared. president and confirmed by the Senate). At least one other person has played it before, as [NPR reported in 2001](https://www.npr.org/2001/03/16/1120053/madisons-crystal-flute). With a lot of security, is the short answer.

A classically trained flutist, the singer, rapper and songwriter spent more than three hours admiring the flute collection at the Library of Congress.

Hayden and staff members ushered her into the “flute vault,” and gave her a tour of the collection, which includes fifes, piccolos and a flute shaped like a walking stick, which Lizzo said she might want as a Christmas present. “Just the enthusiasm that Lizzo brought to seeing the flute collection and how curious she was about it,” Ms. “It’s not clear if Madison did much with the flute other than admire it, but it became a family heirloom and an artifact of the era,” Laurent’s glass flutes remain, the library said, and his crystal flutes are especially rare. As the crowd roared, Lizzo played a note, stuck out her tongue in amazement, and then played another note, trilling it as she twerked in front of thousands of cheering fans. Lizzo arrived on Monday, with her mother and members of her band. “It’s been wonderful.” She then carried the flute over her head, giving the crowd at Capital One Arena one last look, before handing it back to Ms. “I’m scared,” Lizzo said, as she took the sparkling instrument from Carol Lynn Ward-Bamford, a curator at the Library of Congress, who had carefully removed the flute from its customized protective case. [Virginia plantation](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/22/us/montpelier-estate-board-enslaved.html) was built by enslaved Black workers. The moment came together after Dr. Madison’s instrument was made for the second inauguration by a Parisian craftsman.

As NPR's Chloe Veltman reports, the pop music star delighted fans when she played the historic instrument, which belonged to founding father James Madison at a ...

VELTMAN: The audience at Capital One Arena in D.C. It nearly perished when the British set fire to the White House in 1814. Two curators from the music division were with it. Library spokesman Roswell Encina says the flute even had its own escort. As NPR's Chloe Veltman reports, the pop music star delighted fans when she played the historic instrument, which belonged to founding father James Madison at a concert in Washington, D.C., last night. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

Lizzo played James Madison's crystal flute in the Library of Congress, thanks to the power of Twitter.

Then you read it and you go Fair enough. According to the Washington Post, Lizzo had toured the Library’s “flute vault,” which contains over 2000 flutes made from such materials as jade, gold, and plexiglass. Carla Hayden tweeted about the LoC’s flute collection, which Lizzo RT’d with the caption “IM COMING CARLA!

The Library of Congress invited the musician, a classically trained flutist, to play the instrument at her concert this week.

[Lizzo](https://www.lizzomusic.com/) and the [Library of Congress](https://www.loc.gov/) to showcase a 200-year-old flute, which the artist played to a packed stadium in Washington, D.C. “I just twerked and played James Madison’s flute from the 1800s!” Lizzo shouted to the cheering crowd, after handing the flute back to a library representative. the audience took pride in that.” “It was so uniquely a moment that could only happen in D.C. It's safe & sound back at the Library now. Laurent [first patented](https://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2018/10/the-mystery-of-james-madisons-crystal-flute/) his crystal flute design in 1806 in Paris; in the early 1800s, it was sought after by royalty, dignitaries and emperors alike. “Like your song they are ‘Good as hell,’ she wrote of the instruments. [Carla Hayden](https://www.loc.gov/about/about-the-librarian/) noticed that Lizzo would be playing a show in D.C. stop on the [#SpecialTour]tonight. [blog post](https://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2022/09/its-about-danged-time-lizzo-at-the-library/?loclr=twloc) from the Library of Congress’ April Slayton, the one-of-a-kind instrument was crafted in 1813 by French flute designer Claude Laurent for Madison in honor of his second inauguration. “Thank you to the Library of Congress for preserving our history and making history cool. The Library of Congress invited the musician, a classically trained flutist, to play the instrument at her concert this week

The crowd went wild as the singer played a few notes on the former US president's flute on stage at Washington concert.

“History is freaking cool, you guys.” By Thursday, a video of her playing Madison’s flute had been liked more than 350,000 times on Instagram. She later posted a Ordinarily, his crystal flute is housed at the Library of Congress. “We just made history tonight.” It’s like playing out of a wine glass.”

Where did Lizzo receive flute training? After being the person to play former President James Madison's crystal flute, fans want the scoop.

Of course, Lizzo obliged Carla's offer and it was the beginning of a magical experience. It takes skill, persistence, and a true love for the instrument, which is something Lizzo possesses. during the War of 1812." Thank you to the Library of Congress for preserving history and making history freaking cool. So, it makes perfect sense that the talent earned the prestigious honor of playing former President James Madison’s crystal flute at a recent performance. In other words, Lizzo is simply that girl when it comes to delivering an epic performance.

“Pop star Lizzo this week got the opportunity to play a 200-year-old crystal flute that was once owned by President James Madison—and some conservatives are ...

There are those who might take this event as an opportunity to celebrate the fact that Lizzo [actually cares about American history enough to tour the Library of Congress / is bringing welcome attention to the Library of Congress’s collection / is a multitalented artist and musician using her fame and powers for the good]. I’m taking this opportunity to [embarrass myself, yet again, on Twitter / expose myself, yet again, as a petty and pathetic human being / enrich myself, yet again, off the dollars of people who still believe Trump “drained the swamp”]. James Madison is one of our most venerated forefathers, and in my anger over this Lizzo abomination, I’ve never once stopped to consider that President Madison [owned slaves / believed women didn’t deserve the right to vote / never once played his crystal flute]. A woman is not someone who should [feel entitled to dress the way they want / dance the way they want / behave in ways that don’t please me personally]. I know this because I believe life is a zero-sum game where [there are only winners and losers / only white people should put their lips on white people flutes / Lizzo should be as sad and lonely as my white nationalist substack subscribers]. I found this event [triggering / in violation of my need to only ever see thin white women on my timeline].

Right-wing commentators are appalled that the Library of Congress allowed Lizzo to play James Madison's crystal flute.

The flute eventually made its way into the possession of the Library of Congress and sat unplayed until this week, when Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden [invited](https://twitter.com/LibnOfCongress/status/1573327405196115969) [Lizzo](https://www.rollingstone.com/t/lizzo/), a classically trained flautist, to blow a few notes and even take the piece of history onstage during her concert in Washington, D.C. “We just made history tonight.” “It’s hideous,” she said. Jenna Ellis, a former member of Trump’s crack team of election fraud lawyers, even felt compelled to address the issue on her online show. [James Madison](https://www.rollingstone.com/t/james-madison/) defeated DeWitt Clinton in 1812 to secure a second term in the White House. [called it](https://twitter.com/ColumbiaBugle/status/1575147229316145153) a “humiliation ritual.” Right-wing commentator Greg Price [wrote](https://twitter.com/greg_price11/status/1575174265321635840) that “they” want to “degrade our history and then call you a racist if you actually value it.” Trump appointee Darren Beattie [described Lizzo](https://twitter.com/DarrenJBeattie/status/1575142147669594113) as the “perfect representative of the American Globalist Empire.” Trump superfan Nick Adams [tweeted](https://twitter.com/NickAdamsinUSA/status/1575035522145460225) that the “Biden Administration is making a mockery of the country.” Former GOP congressional candidate Andrew McCarthy [said](https://twitter.com/AMcCarthyNY/status/1575180765826273281) everyone involved “should be deported.”

Pop star Lizzo played a crystal flute owned by President James Madison. For some, seeing a Black woman play a slave owner's flute was simply too much.

How about 'quiet dieting'?](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2022/08/24/quiet-quitting-tiktok-employee-burnout-workplace-buzzword-huppke/7877105001/) Here's how.](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2022/08/29/teacher-shortage-lgbt-critical-race-theory-groomer/7890604001/) [Quiet quitting is all the rage. [If the GOP is ready to rebrand, here are my ideas for a post-MAGA party](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2022/09/01/donald-trump-maga-rebrand-huppke/7946078001/). The problem people are having with Lizzo and the crystal flute has nothing to do with the flute or its history. They’d call it a beautiful and welcome embrace of our proud Western heritage, or a return to the kind of values America was founded on. So let me summarize: Lizzo played a historic flute nobody outside of James-Madison-fan-boy circles had ever heard of before Tuesday, and that was a societal cataclysm significant enough to distract MAGA-Republican thought leaders from their important work, which at the time was probably The problem people are having with Lizzo has nothing to do with the flute or its history. I don’t think for a moment that Price or any of these disingenuous, aggrieved-without-cause people value our history, and I’ll still call them racist. The opportunity came via the Library of Congress, which houses the precious flute and agreed to let Lizzo play it at her show. Most would consider that a good thing, but some decided it was a very bad thing, quite possibly one of the worst things that has ever happened. They degrade our history and then call you racist if you actually value it.” Jackie Walorski really shows](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnists/2022/09/29/biden-jackie-walorski-memory-lapse-age-generosity/10457566002/)

Lizzo borrowed a flute from the Library of Congress and librarian Carla Hayden. People like Ben Shapiro are mad that she twerked with it which makes no ...

If anything, Lizzo — who declared to her audience after returning the flute “HISTORY IS SO FREAKING COOL!” — showed more reverence and respect for history in her time at the Library of Congress than many of the conservatives who would prefer to see America’s backstory sanitized into a homogenous sludge of patriotic but ahistorical hero worship. I have doubts — what we’re seeing is the online equivalent of an involuntary spasm in a muscle touched with an electrical wire. But do prominent commentators like Shapiro know that their audiences will have felt a reflexive feeling of revulsion toward Lizzo and want to capitalize on it? Fast-forward a week and suddenly people have thoughts about the propriety and sanctity of Lizzo gleefully playing a few notes on that flute on a stage in Washington on Tuesday. Instead, they are mad because someone who is living her life as unapologetically fat, Black and female dared have a good time in public. When items are briefly lent out for display — or in this case performance — “curators ensure that the item can be transported in a customized protective container and a Library curator and security officer are always guarding the item until it is secured once more.” These are people who would rather drop-kick a grubby-handed toddler bearing down on a piece of parchment than be responsible for damage to an item in their charge. They are mad because something that was once owned by a slaveholding Virginian aristocrat would be introduced to America as part of a concert where Lizzo dared jiggle her ass for a second or two while playing it. You could see that those protective steps were in place in video from Tuesday’s concert, where Lizzo reverently holds the crystal flute when it's handed to her. last Friday, it’s safe to say that the number of people who knew that President James Madison once owned a crystal flute — let alone that it’s now in the possession of the Library of Congress — could likely fit comfortably inside a high school auditorium. These are people who believe so deeply in safeguarding the past that they voluntarily wage an eternal war against unvanquishable enemies like light and dust. That included the crystal flute that Hayden had teased in her tweet — and which the superstar asked if she could play during her D.C.

James Madison was the fourth president of the United States. He was instrumental in the various compromises that led to the creation of the Constitution and ...

After gingerly handing the instrument back to the Library representative, Lizzo made an announcement to the crowd: “Bitch, I just twerked and played James Madison’s crystal flute from the 1800s! When Lizzo accepted the invitation to the Library Of Congress, the institution made a whole social-media event of it. Lizzo is a classically trained flutist who studied the instrument at the University Of Houston and who has made her flute abilities a part of her whole pop-star act.