On April 9, the U.S. Library of Congress announced that the original cast album of the musical Hamilton, written and produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda, would be included in the 2025 class of the Library of Congress’s prestigious National Recording Registry.
What is the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry?
The National Recording Registry law was established to maintain and preserve “sound recordings that are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” It’s main objective is basically to preserve the most important American music.
Each year, 25 albums are inducted into the Registry. They are not the most popular albums of the year or even the most important new works, and in fact must be at least ten years old to be considered. Works may come from any point in the history of the nation, and they include spoken word as well as music recordings. This year’s class begins with the 1913 single of “Aloha ‘Oe,” composed by Princess (later Queen) Lili’uokalani and performed by the Hawaiian Quintette.
Hamilton, recorded in 2015 by the original cast of the hit Broadway shows, is the latest in the group.
What is Hamilton?
The musical follows the life of Alexander Hamilton, Treasury Secretary under President George Washington, from his humble beginnings as an orphan in the Caribbean to his pivotal role in the American Revolution. It explores his significant contributions to the formation of the United States government, his complex personal life, and his tumultuous rivalry with Aaron Burr, which ultimately culminated in Hamilton’s death from a wound sustained in a duel.
Hamilton is striking for the way it blends hip-hop, R&B, pop, soul, and traditional Broadway show tunes to tell the exciting story. Focusing on themes of ambition, power, and identity, the songs use the modern music and some 20,000 words to make the drama of the Founding Fathers accessible to modern audiences.
Hamilton has received much attention for its multiracial casting. Historical figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and the Schuyler sisters are portrayed by actors of color. This deliberate choice, Miranda explains, allows for a “story about America then, told by America now,” emphasizing the immigrant experience and the diverse fabric of the nation. It has been praised for its powerful impact and for making the story relatable to a wider audience.
Hamilton has previously won 11 Tony awards , a Grammy for “Best Musical Theater Album,” and a Pulitzer Prize.
Composer Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lin-Manuel Miranda was born in New York of Puerto Rican parents and summered in Puerto Rico for much of his childhood. He has long advocated for various causes in Puerto Rico, and has a foundation on the Island, Flamboyan Foundation, which supports arts and education in Puerto Rico. He partnered with Discover Puerto Rico to create media to encourage tourism to Puerto Rico and used his platforms to increase awareness of Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.
Miranda has also composed many other important works, including In the Heights, music for Disney films Encanto and Moana, and multiple Broadway musicals, as well as spearheading a range of initiatives in arts and education.
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