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Lizzo plays James Madison’s crystal flute onstage during D.C. concert : NPR


Lizzo poses after receiving an award for “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls” at the 74th Primetime Emmys in Los Angeles earlier this month.

Image of Frazer Harrison / Getty


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Lizzo poses after receiving an award for “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls” at the 74th Primetime Emmys in Los Angeles earlier this month.

Image of Frazer Harrison / Getty

Some people visit Washington, DC, for tourist attractions, like monuments and museums. They might not expect to see history made at a pop concert – but that’s what happened to an arena full of fans at Lizzo’s concert on Tuesday night.

The superstar singer, rapper and highly trained pianist has taken a break from the “Special Tour” roster to play a crystal flute owned by former President James Madison and approved by the National Library of Congress. American Association for loan.

That makes Lizzo the first and only person to play the flute in centuries, she said in a tweet.

“NEVER HEAR THIS POPULAR CRYSTAL LINE BEFORE,” she wrote. “NOW YOU HAVE.”

A Frenchman built an ornate musical instrument in 1813 specifically for Madison in honor of his second inauguration, according to Library of Congress. It is said that the flute may have been one of the few valuables that former first lady Dolley Madison brought with her from the White House when she fled shortly before. British troops set fire to Washington, DCin 1814.

So how did it make it to the Capital One Arena stage and into the hands of the chart-topping artist? With so much security, is the short answer.

Here is the longer version. According to Carla Hayden, librarian of the US Congress, the flute is among more than 1,800 flutes that currently exist in the Library of Congress, which has the largest collection in the world. ). Notably, Hayden is first woman and the first African-American to hold this title.

On Friday, Hayden tagged Lizzo in a tweet displayed some of the Library’s flutes – including Madison’s – and invited her to “come see it and even play some when you’re in DC next week.”

“Like your song, they’re ‘Good as hell,'” she added, with a winking emoji.

Lizzo quickly responded with a passionate tweet of her own:

It is worth noting that Lizzo has played the flute since she was in school, first by ear and then private lessons (she originally dreamed of becoming an ensemble singer before getting into rapping and singing). She plays her flute – named Sasha after Beyonce’s “I Am Sasha Fierce” and has her own flute Instagram account – often, including on Saturday night live and at her NPR Tiny Desk Concert.

On Monday, a patron tweeted that they discovered Lizzo at the Library of Congress and that Hayden personally asked them if she would agree with them if she broke the library’s “quiet rules” to play the flute (of course they said yes). ). The U.S. Library of Congress also offered a hint about its famous guest, tweet a photo of a sign with Lizzo’s picture and a tape recording, all caps, “courtesy”.

Handlers brought the flute on stage at Lizzo’s concert the next night. Dressed in a glittering bodysuit, she crept up to the guitar and carefully carried it to the microphone standing a few feet away, commenting that “it’s like playing from a glass of wine, so be patient.”

Lizzo folded her fingers and played a loud, clear note – then opened her eyes wide and stuck her tongue out in surprise. She played another trill while bouncing to the beat, as the audience cheered. Then she returned the instrument and ran the mic again.

“B***h, I fit and play James Madison’s crystal flute from the 1800s,” she exclaimed. “We just made history tonight!”

She thanked the Library of Congress for “preserving our history and making it interesting.”

Carrie Arnold, who was in the crowd on Tuesday, told NPR the moment was like a celebration of progress, in a way.

“You don’t often see the founding father’s personal artifacts taken back as symbols of popular culture and a celebration [of] Empowering Black Women,” she wrote via text message. It’s a unique moment that can only happen in DC and… the audience is proud of it. ”

Library then tweeted that the flute had returned safely thanks to an escort from the Capitol Police, and suggested that it would soon be shared more from Lizzo’s visit.

Meanwhile, DC residents as well as history buffs and Lizzo fans from far and wide are amplifying videos on social networks and praises everyone involved for making this unforgettable moment possible – and especially Lizzo for championing the importance of history. As she said on stage:

“History is great, guys!”





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