Greetings, music lovers, and happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at the NLS Music Section! We have many new braille music scores and talking books to be thankful for this month, and they’re all available for you to download from our reading platform, BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download).
We have talking books that capture fascinating music programs from the Library of Congress Music Division on artists such as Diane Reeves, Claude Debussy, Hector Berlioz, Arnold Schoenberg, and Milton Babbitt. Among our new braille music scores, we have a complete transcription of Olivier Messiaen’s nine-movement work for organ, La Nativité du Seigneur; two choral works by English composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor; In the Mists, a four-part cycle for piano by Czech composer Leoš Janáček; and many lesson books and short pieces for beginning pianists. We also have brand-new braille method books in the Tradition of Excellence series for bassoon, clarinet, and flute.
Please note that all materials listed below are also available to borrow by mail, not only through BARD. Please contact the Music Section to borrow talking books on digital cartridge or to borrow hard copies of braille music. Call us at 1-800-424-8567, or e-mail us at [email protected].
If you are new to BARD, you may find the following links helpful: Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) and BARD Access.
Talking Books
Berlioz, Charles Munch & the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Musicologist D. Kern Holoman discusses the role of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and conductor Charles Munch in bringing French orchestral literature–particularly the music by Hector Berlioz–to the United States. (DBM04400)
Debussy’s Fascination with the Exotic from China to Spain. Debussy scholar Marie Rolf discusses some of the Library’s materials related to the French composer, with a particular focus on two lesser-known songs: “Rondel chinois” and “Seguidille,” the latter of which was recently published for the first time in an edition edited by Rolf. (DBM04401)
Diane Reeves Interview. “Grammy Award-winning vocalist Dianne Reeves discusses her career and interpretations of Ella Fitzgerald’s music. This interview was filmed in conjunction with Reeves’ concert at the Library, ‘Dianne Reeves Sings Ella,’ a commemoration of Ella Fitzgerald’s centennial. The Library of Congress holds the Ella Fitzgerald Collection.” (DBM04395)
Elizabethan Poetry and Music. James Wintle discusses Elizabethan poetry and music in the collections of the Library’s Music Division. This pre-concert lecture was presented in conjunction with a concert featuring mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter, lutenist Thomas Dunford, and keyboardist Jonathan Cohen. (DBM04399)
The Music of Arnold Schoenberg and Milton Babbitt. Walter Frisch speaks about the music of Arnold Schoenberg and Milton Babbitt, focusing on the music performed on the Spektral Quartet concert of 3/31/2018, including Schoenberg’s first and third string quartets and Babbitt’s “The Joy of More Sextets” and “An Encore,” composed for violin and piano. The Library of Congress possesses holograph manuscript material related to all of these works. (DBM04398)
The Musical Worlds of Victor Herbert Concert and Conversation. An intimate panel discussion and concert sampling Herbert’s operetta classics, including “Babes in Toyland,” “Naughty Marietta,” and moments from the Ziegfield Follies. Rediscover an important composer and cellist who influenced Antonín Dvořák, and later, great American musical theater figures like Irving Berlin and the Gershwins. Hosted by the Library’s Loras John Schissel with William Hicks (music director/pianist), Rebecca Luker (vocalist), Ron Raines (vocalist), Aaron Lazar (vocalist), Korliss Uecker (vocalist) and Jerry Grossman (cellist). (DBM04396)
Braille Music
Choral
Coleridge-Taylor, Samuel. The Death of Minnehaha: Cantata for soprano and baritone soli, chorus, and orchestra. Line by line format (BRM03754)
—Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast: Cantata. For SATB chorus and tenor solo in paragraph format (BRM04030)
Organ
Messiaen, Olivier. La nativité du Seigneur: Neuf méditations pour orgue = The Birth of the Lord : Nine Meditations for Organ. For organ in section by section format. This file contains Volume 1: La vièrge et l’enfant ; Les bergers ; Desseins éternels (BRT37381)
—Volume 2: La Verbe ; Les enfants de Dieu (BRT37382)
—Volume 3: Les Anges ; Jésus accepte la souffrance ; Les mages (BRT37383)
—Volume 4: Dieu parmi nous (BRT37395)
Piano (and Harpsichord)
Adair, Yvonne. Boots. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37393)
Alexander, Dennis. Shadows. From the Royal Conservatory’s Celebration Series, Piano Repertoire, Level Preparatory A. Bar over bar format. (BRT37408)
Barratt, Carol. Cruising. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37427)
Bastien, James W. The Older Beginner Piano Course, Level 1. Bar over bar format. (BRM32007)
—The Older Beginner Piano Course, Level 2. Bar over bar format. (BRM26336)
Beethoven, Ludwig van. Écossaise in E flat major WoO 86. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37445)
Berlin, Boris. A Skating Waltz. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37414)
Bober, Melody. Sneaky Sam. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37429)
Chatman, Stephen. Foggy Beach. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37426)
—The Mouse in the Grandfather Clock. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37413)
Dello Joio, Norman. Five Images for Piano, Four Hands. Far over bar format. (BRM28322)
Donkin, Christine. The Haunted Harp. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37389)
—Sleigh Bells. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37415)
Duke, David. March for a Reluctant Soldier. From the Royal Conservatory’s Celebration Series, Piano Repertoire, Level Preparatory A. Bar over bar format. (BRT37409)
Early One Morning. Arranged by Frederick Silvester for piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37447)
Faber, Nancy. The Haunted Mouse. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37390)
—Jazz Blast. From the Royal Conservatory’s Celebration Series, Piano Repertoire, Level Preparatory A. Bar over bar format. (BRT37407)
Fuchs, Robert. Lieb’ Schwesterlein = Dear Little Sister : op. 32, no. 14. From Jugendklange, op. 32. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37384)
Gedike, Alexander. A Little Piece op. 6, no. 2. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37446)
Handel, George Frideric. Sarabande in D minor. Fourth movement of Suite in D Minor, HWV 437. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37385)
Janáček, Leoš. V mlhách = Im Nebel = In the Mist : piano. A cycle in four parts for solo piano. Revised edition by Radoslav Kvapil. Section by section format. Includes preface and remarks regarding interpretation in English and German. (BRM37338)
The Joy of Classics. Compiled by Denes Agay for piano in section by section format. Contains easy and original works by Purcell, Bach, Handel, Telemann, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Weber, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Volkman, and Liszt. (BRM37434)
Kabalevsky, Dmitry Borisovich. The Trumpeter and the Echo op. 89, no. 15. From Children’s Adventures, op. 89. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37387)
Kirkby-Mason, Barbara. Cours de piano pour débutants. Text is in French. “For absolute beginners at their first lesson. This book includes a guide to the position of middle C and the notes in the treble and bass. In order to play the first few pieces in the book, which are confined to the five-finger group in each hand, you only need to know how to find notes by position from middle C. Daily finger exercises are included at the beginning of the book, containing the various time-signatures and note values used in the album.” (BRM37339)
Lechner, Lothar. Mein Weihnachtsbuch: 33 Weihnachtslieder mit vollständigen Texten = 33 Christmas Carols with Complete Texts. A collection of Christmas carols for one or two pianos, two or four hands, in section by section format. (BRM37435)
Liszt, Franz. Sunt lacrymae rerum: en mode hongrois (Années de pèlerinage). “There Are Tears for Things/In Hungarian Style,” no. 5 from Troisième année of Années de pèlerinage, S. 163. For piano in section by section format. (BRM37340)
Milne, Elissa. Smooth and Crunchy. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37411)
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus. Allegro in B flat major, K. 3. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37443)
Niamath, Linda. Spider’s Web. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37412)
Pearce, Elvina. Let’s Waltz. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37388)
Piano Repertoire, Level Four: Romantic & 20th Century. From the Neil A. Kjos Piano Library. Provides piano students with carefully chosen collections of piano music from the 19th and 20th centuries. Each volume contains an ample selection of music featuring a large assortment of composers and styles. The appropriately graded levels ensure steady and thorough progress as pianists advance in their study of Romantic and 20th Century keyboard literature.” Bar over bar format. Includes brief biographies of the composers. (BRM37394)
Pišna, Josef. 60 tägliche Studien piano. 60 Daily Exercises for piano by Josef Pišna. Edition revised and completed by Willy Rehberg. Section by section format. (BRM37369)
Pop Goes the Weasel. Arranged by Andrew Markow for piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37428)
Prokofiev, Sergey. March op. 33, no. 1: From the opera The Love of the Three Oranges for piano solo. Arranged for solo piano by the composer. Section by section format. (BRM37370)
Reubart, Dale. The Teeter-Totter. From the Royal Conservatory’s Celebration Series, Piano Repertoire, Level Preparatory A. Bar over bar format. (BRT37406)
Richert, Teresa. Curious Cat. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37391)
—Pixies on Parade. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37430)
Rollin, Catherine. Owl in the Night. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37392)
—Rainbow Fish. From the Royal Conservatory’s Celebration Series, Piano Repertoire, Level Preparatory A. Bar over bar format. (BRT37410)
Roussel, Albert. Prélude et fugue pour piano, op. 46. Bar over bar format. (BRM28953)
Satie, Erik. Three Gymnopédies for the Piano. For piano in section by section format. (BRM37403)
Scholz, Erwin Christian. Aller Anfang ist nicht schwer = Every Beginning Is Not Difficult: 82 kleine Vortragsstücke für die Unterstufe des Klavierspiels = 82 Small Performance Pieces for the Lower Grades of Piano Playing. Section by section format. (BRM37404)
Schubert, Franz. Ave Maria op. 52 no. 6 : Klavier. Ave Maria by Franz Schubert arranged for piano in section by section format. (BRM37405)
Schumann, Robert. Dedication = Widmung. From Robert Schumann’s “Myrthen”. Arranged for piano by Franz Liszt. Bar over bar format. (BRM37437)
Scriabin, Aleksandr Nikolayevich. Deux poèmes pour piano : op. 63. Bar by bar format. (BRM32537)
Telemann, Georg Philipp. Klavierbüchlein. For harpsichord in section by section format. Two of the 10 selections are scored for 4 hands. (BRM37418)
Thompson, John. Nos tout-petits au piano = Teaching Little Fingers to Play. Instructional text in French. For piano in section by section format. The purpose of this book is to strengthen the skills learned in the first book. Both hands stay in the five-finger positions, but new juxtapositions are added. (BRM37419)
Türk, Daniel Gottlob. The Ballet. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37444)
—The Lively Boy. From Handstücke für angehende Klavierspieler (Pieces for Aspiring Players), Book 1. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT37386)
Villa-Lobos, Heitor. Guia prático pour piano. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRM37420)
Vocal
Les 12 plus belles chansons de Noël = The 12 Most Beautiful Christmas Songs. A collection of Christmas carols for voice and piano in French. Section by section format. (BRM37436)
Bach, Johann Sebastian. I follow thee also: soprano aria from “The Passion of Our Lord According to St. John”. Section by section and bar by bar format. (BRM01706)
Nelson, Ron. The Christmas Story for narrator, baritone solo, mixed chorus, organ, brass, and timpani. Chorus and narrator parts to The Christmas Story by Ron Nelson in line by line and contracted braille format. (BRM04768)
Wind Instruments
Kennan, Kent Wheeler. Sonata for Trumpet and Piano. Section by section and bar over bar formats. This volume contains the trumpet and piano parts. (BRM17014)
Pearson, Bruce. Tradition of Excellence. Book 2, E-flat Alto Clarinet, Comprehensive band method. In single line and bar over bar formats. (BRM37396)
—Tradition of Excellence. Book 2, B-flat Bass Clarinet Comprehensive Band Method. In single line and bar over bar formats. (BRM37397)
—Tradition of Excellence. Book 2, Bassoon, Comprehensive Band Method. In single line and bar over bar formats. (BRM37398)
—Tradition of Excellence Book 2, B-flat Clarinet. Comprehensive Band Method. In single line and bar over bar formats. (BRM37399)
—Tradition of Excellence. Book 2, Flute, Comprehensive Band Method. In single line and bar over bar formats. (BRM37400)