Pop star Lizzo played President James Madison’s flute from 1813 at a Washington, D.C., concert on Tuesday night.
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden tweeted at Lizzo on Friday, inviting her to play the flute. The pop star visited the Library of Congress on Monday to tour the facilities and play the flute, gifted to the fourth president for his second inauguration in 1813. A video emerged of her practicing on the flute while twerking inside the library.
Lizzo twerks in the Library of Congress while playing James Madison’s crystal flute:
“Sorry, James Madison and his wife, Mrs. Madison.” pic.twitter.com/WUQCHMAGxc
— The Recount (@therecount) September 28, 2022
Parisian Claude Laurent, the flute’s creator and gifter, is credited with inventing the glass flute, according to the Met. The crystal flute is one of two in the library’s collection but one of 17 total flutes from Laurent, which the library claims is the largest collection of his in the world. Laurent won a silver medal at the 1806 Paris Industrial Exposition for a similar flute.
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“THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS LET ME PLAY THEIR HISTORIC 200 YEAR OLD CRYSTAL FLUTE ON STAGE TONIGHT — NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE … NOW YOU DO” Lizzo captioned one Instagram post.
“[Lizzo] you are a gift to all of us,” Hayden responded to video footage of Lizzo’s Tuesday concert. “And it’s YOU who just made history much more cooler.”
This makes my heart swell. ❤️ @lizzo you are a gift to all of us.
And it’s YOU who just made history much more cooler.We appreciate all the @librarycongress love at the concert last night. We can’t wait to have you back. #LizzoAtLOC https://t.co/R5oAdKxXYW
— Carla Hayden (@LibnOfCongress) September 28, 2022
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The Library of Congress did not confirm whether Madison ever played the flute he received as a gift. It was given to first lady Dolley Madison’s son from her first marriage, John Payne Todd, who then gave it to Dr. Cornelius Boyle of Washington, D.C., in his will.
Boyle’s heirs eventually arranged for it to be displayed at the United States National Museum in 1903. Afterward, they sold it to Dayton C. Miller, who ultimately donated his own personal collection of 1,700 instruments to the Library of Congress in 1941.
It is unclear if it was ever played or if Lizzo was the first to play it.
Lizzo also practiced this part of her on-stage performance in the Library’s Great Hall on Monday. Wait for it… #LizzoAtLOChttps://t.co/kT2c6Fmnrn pic.twitter.com/pIashO5qp6
— Library of Congress (@librarycongress) September 28, 2022
