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Posted by: Mary Dell Jenkins
That’s right, it’s December, and no doubt you’re all busy with your holiday shopping and making a list of naughty and nice. As with many libraries, the NLS Music Section is no different than others when it comes to receiving gifts. Frequently, braille music patrons, and sometimes other institutions will contact us and ask if …
Posted in: Braille, Braille Music, New Acquisitions, NLS Music Section
Posted by: Mary Dell Jenkins
As each liturgical season in the Christian year approaches, the NLS Music Section receives an increase in requests for choral masterworks, as well as many requests for some of the more famous requiems. If you asked anyone to name a famous oratorio, Messiah with its Hallelujah Chorus would most likely be at the top of …
Posted in: Braille Music, Choral, Uncategorized
Posted by: Mary Dell Jenkins
As we add titles to our collection from the Smithsonian Collection, we are eagerly learning more about different music genres and their development, particularly of American Folk Music. When I was told I would have “other duties as assigned” there was no indication that those duties would be so enjoyable. I grew up listening to …
Posted in: Audio, Banjo, Bluegrass, Folk Music, Guitar instruction, Music Instruction, NLS Music Section, Popular Music
Posted by: Mary Dell Jenkins
When you say the word music, people usually agree that they like it. In fact, I’ve never heard anyone say anything else; and if they didn’t like music, that would be a sad day for me. But, music covers a lot of territory, and people have their reasons for liking or identifying with what appeals to …
Posted in: Braille Music, Jazz, Music Instruction, Piano, Popular Music, Popular Music Lead Sheets
Posted by: Mary Dell Jenkins
While most people associate Louis Braille with the system of reading and writing for the blind, many are not aware he was also an accomplished organist and musician. There is good evidence he created the Braille code for music first and language second. But whichever came first, the literary or the music code, we’re just grateful …
Posted in: Blind Musicians, Braille, Braille Music, Instrumental Music, Jazz, NLS Concerts, NLS Music Section, Performing music, Piano, Uncategorized
Posted by: Mary Dell Jenkins
The NLS Music Section recently acquired a braille transcription of Benjamin Britten’s Friday Afternoons. The songs in this collection are available both in hard copy and for download from BARD, for anyone who is performing them or otherwise interested in this music. The music is scored for soprano, alto, tenor, and bass choral parts. A …
Posted in: Uncategorized
Posted by: Mary Dell Jenkins
Some of the Music Section’s most ardent patrons are operagoers. This comes as no surprise to other opera aficionados, but blind/low vision operagoers are usually not able to pick up a program in braille or large print and read a synopsis when they arrive at the theater; that is, until they (or the opera companies) …
Posted in: Braille libretto, Large Print, Libretto, Metropolitan Opera