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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
Posted by: Katie Rodda
Next week, on October 22, the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) will present a concert by jazz pianist and NLS patron Justin Kauflin in the Coolidge Auditorium at 7:15 p.m. The performance is a celebration of 50 years of the Music Section, which provides braille scores and …
Posted in: Blind Musicians, Instrumental Music, Jazz, Piano
Posted by: Amanda Smith
I grew up in the foothills of North Carolina in an area where music styles and lyrics known to the Southern Appalachians trickled down and nestled in my bones. In writing about the music culture of the Blue Ridge Mountains, what would a discussion of NC mountain music be without the mention of legendary guitar …
Posted in: Audio, Blind Musicians, Folk Music, Guitar instruction, Music Instruction, Uncategorized
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: Amanda Smith
Summer and jazz seem to go hand-in-hand. I am noticing weekend jazz festivals and evenings of “jazz in the park” all over the D.C. area. I am sure some of you have enjoyed some of these events where you live. Now I am thinking about jazz! This thought lends itself to a discussion of related genres like …
Posted in: Audio, Blind Musicians, Jazz, Music History and Appreciation, Popular Music, Rhythm & Blues (R&B), Soul Music
Posted by: John Hanson
The Music Section regularly adds new music to its collection. In this first post to address new additions, we highlight recently added titles that are in digital format. Each can be embossed and loaned in hard copy, if needed, but this list shows new titles in digital format. Strictly hard copy paper acquisitions are made through purchases …
Posted in: Blind Musicians, Braille Music
Posted by: Katie Rodda
Co-written with Claire L. Rojstaczer Whether it is a music librarian humming a tune, a recording of a trumpet lesson, or the soothing voice of an instructor detailing the intricacies of a Rossini opera, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped’s Music Section is constantly abuzz with the sounds of music. For …
Posted in: Blind Musicians, Large Print, NLS Music Section, Recordings
Posted by: John Hanson
While reading through a Billboard magazine article that celebrates Quincy Jones’ 80th birthday, a Music Section staff person stumbled on a name that looked very familiar. In the article, from the March 16th issue of Billboard, she found that longtime NLS music patron Justin Kauflin was named one of the “Six Acts to Watch …
Posted in: Blind Musicians, Jazz, NLS Concerts, NLS Music Section