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Posted by: Amanda Smith
The Music Section’s collection of music scores and audio materials is plentiful. Piano music, yes! Guitar lead sheets, we’ve got them! Vocal librettos, songs, etc. But, what about music written for lesser known instruments? Do you play the penny whistle or know how to yodel? The music collection also contains titles for instrument or voice …
Posted in: Audio, Braille Music, Instrumental Music, Music Instruction, New Acquisitions
Posted by: Amanda Smith
In my last blog post highlighting the Music Section‘s newest braille music acquisitions I mentioned the Glee Songbook: Easy Piano, and also “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” by Cole Porter. These titles easily bring to mind the subject of Broadway musicals. For quite some time the Music Section has been offering a selection of …
Posted in: Braille Music, Broadway, Popular Music
Posted by: Amanda Smith
This past month the Music Section made available for download on BARD three contemporary, popular, and jazz titles. First, a braille transcription of Glee Songbook: Easy Piano. This book contains a collection of songs from the popular TV show Glee‘s first season arranged for easy–or beginner–piano. Examples include: Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon, “Can’t Fight This Feeling;” …
Posted in: Braille and Audio Reading Download BARD, Braille Music, Jazz, New Acquisitions, Popular Music
Posted by: Amanda Smith
Musical Mainstream is one of two magazines produced by the NLS music section for our patrons. Music librarians, including myself, compile and create these Magazines. Musical Mainstream is a magazine containing current articles and audio music reviews reprinted from popular music magazines and journals. Its subject matter is classical music, and it includes information about …
Posted in: Magazines, New Acquisitions, NLS Music Section
Posted by: Amanda Smith
The work of digitizing the Music Section‘s braille music scores continues unabated. Details of the Section’s scanners and software were discussed in a previous post. Since then, the German scanner has served as the driving resource for digitizing braille music items. The digital copies of scores and parts are backed up and archived, serving as …
Posted in: Braille, Braille and Audio Reading Download BARD, Braille Technology, NLS Music Section
Posted by: Amanda Smith
February 26th was the birthday of the late legendary country music artist Johnny Cash known as the Man in Black. Cash was a legend long before Joaquin Phoenix portrayed him in the 2005 film “Walk the Line.” Initially getting into the business with Sun Records in the mid-50s, Cash settled in to a career filled …
Posted in: Country Music, Folk Music, Guitar instruction, Popular Music
Posted by: Amanda Smith
Recently, we mentioned the Music Section’s acquisition of the sixth edition, Norton Anthology of Western Music, Vol. 3, Twentieth Century. This time of year also marks the beginning of the college spring semester, and we have seen a rise in the average amount of our music history related inquiries. Music history has been on the “brain” of …
Posted in: Braille Music, Choral, Large Print, Libretto, Metropolitan Opera, Music History and Appreciation, New Acquisitions
Posted by: Amanda Smith
Recently, I came across an article about an Egyptian orchestra made up solely of blind women musicians. The group has been active since the 1960s, branching out from the Al Nour Wal Amal Association – Al Nour Wal Amal, meaning “Light and Hope.” Stories about the group have been picked up by The New Yorker …
Posted in: Blind Musicians, Instrumental Music, Orchestra, Performing music
Posted by: Amanda Smith
This year, Thanksgiving Day falls on November 27th, which also happens to be the birthday of legendary guitar player, James Marshall “Jimi” Hendrix. Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942, and influenced the world with his lengthy solos and stylistic touch to the electric guitar during the late 60’s. In the spring of 2006, Hendrix’s album, Are …
Posted in: Audio, Blind Musicians, Blues, Braille Music, Music History and Appreciation