I hope everyone out there had a relaxing and peace-filled holiday season. Now that the year is almost through, it’s time to look ahead to 2016 and the new beginnings that await us there. In keeping with that spirit, this blog will highlight some of the newest braille and digital talking books that have been added to BARD over the past month. So why not make a new year’s resolution to download our newest BARD titles?
Here are a few of our most recent audio additions to BARD:
Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard: Pioneering Women of Bluegrass (DBM03671)
This digital talking book is a production of the Smithsonian Folkways collection. This book goes through the early career of Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard, two female bluegrass performers who rose to prominence in the 1960s. This book describes their meeting, initial performances, and their recollections and notes of their first recordings. Their influence on other female bluegrass artists is highlighted, as well as their experience with the bluegrass and old-time music scene in Washington, D.C.
Instructional Recording Catalog for Guitars (DBM03689)
This catalog (narrated by our own John Hanson) lists and describes digital talking books available from the music section for guitar instruction, ranging from beginning and genre-specific lessons to individual song and lead sheet instruction, as well as books for bass guitar instruction. It is the first up-to-date catalog of instructional audio titles in many years, and we are happy to be able to present it to you.
Friends of Old-Time Music (DBM03688)
This is another production of the Smithsonian Folkways collection. It takes the listener through some of the performances sponsored by the Friends of Old-Time Music, an organization committed to the revitalization of old-time music in the 1960s. Performers include Roscoe Holcomb, Doc Watson, The Stanley Brothers, Mississippi John Hurt, and others.
Here are a few of our most recent braille music additions to BARD:
Songs by 22 Americans (BRM 25697)
This braille music title includes songs for high voice with piano accompaniment, such as “Sure On This Shining Night” by Samuel Barber, “Preciosilla” by Virgil Thomson, and “The Bird Of The Wilderness” by Paul Creston.
School of Velocity, op. 299 by Carl Czerny (BRM36094)
Czerny was a 19th Century pianist and teacher, who is perhaps most well-known for his technical piano studies, such as School of Velocity. This piano study will help pianists improve the speed and dexterity of their hand movements.
Étincelles from 8 Characteristic Pieces by Moritz Moszkowski (BRM36093)
This virtuosic piece, encapsulated by its title Étincelles (Sparks), is a popular showpiece. In particular, the legendary pianist Vladimir Horowitz frequently used it as an encore at his recitals.
Klavierstücke, op. 76 by Johannes Brahms (BRM36092)
This collection of 8 pieces for the piano, consisting of four caprices and interludes, was written by Brahms in 1879. This braille music file also contains comments, notes, and selected sources.
Music for String Instruments, Percussion, and Celesta: Andante tranquillo by Béla Bartók (BRM36091)
This piece, perhaps one of Bartók’s most famous compositions, is an excerpt from the Norton Anthology of Western Music. In particular, this first movement’s fugal structure is worth an in-depth study and examination.
So while you’re compiling your list of New Year’s resolutions, be sure to add “download new BARD titles.” And add our “Recently Added” page to you favorites list so you can check back for up-to-the-minute additions.
Happy listening, happy practicing, and Happy New Year!