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We study branching laws for a classical group $G$ and a symmetric subgroup $H$. Our approach is through the {\it branching algebra}, the algebra of covariants for $H$ in the regular functions on the natural torus bundle over the flag manifold for $G$. We give concrete descriptions of (natural subalgebras of) the branching algebra using classical invariant theory. In this context, it turns out that the ten classes of classical symmetric pairs $(G,H)$ are associated in pairs, $(G,H)$ and $(H',G')$, and that the (partial) branching algebra for $(G,H)$ also describes a branching law from $H'$ to $G'$. (However, the second branching law may involve certain infinite-dimensional highest weight modules for $H'$.) To highlight the fact that these algebras describe two branching laws simultaneously, we call them {\it reciprocity algebras}. Our description of the reciprocity algebras reveals that they all are related to the tensor product algebra for $GL_n$. This relation is especially strong in the {\it stable range}. We give quite explicit descriptions of reciprocity algebras in the stable range in terms of the tensor product algebra for $GL_n$. This is the structure lying behind formulas for branching multiplicities in terms of Littlewood-Richardson coefficients., Comment: 39 pages

This paper focuses on the $GL_n$ tensor product algebra, which encapsulates the decomposition of tensor products of arbitrary finite dimensional irreducible representations of $GL_n$. We will describe an explicit basis for this algebra. This construction relates directly with the combinatorial description of Littlewood-Richardson coefficients in terms of Littlewood-Richardson tableaux. Philosophically, one may view this construction as a recasting of the Littlewood-Richardson rule in the context of classical invariant theory., Comment: 34 pages

We approach the problem of obtaining branching rules from the point of view of dual reductive pairs. Specifically, we obtain a stable branching rule for each of 10 classical families of symmetric pairs. In each case, the branching multiplicities are expressed in terms of Littlewood-Richardson coefficients. Some of the formulas are classical and include, for example, Littlewood's restriction rule as a special case., Comment: 26 pages

In this paper we study the reducibility, composition series and unitarity of the components of some degenerate principal series representations of $\RMO(p,q)$, $\RMU(p,q)$ and $\SP(p,q)$. This is done by realizing these representations in paces of homogeneous functions on light cones and writing down the explicit actions of the universal enveloping algebra of the group concerned., Comment: 74 pages