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Posted by: Donna Koh
A new job brings an equal amount of excitement and anxiety. When I joined the Music Section last year, I felt mildly anxious about what kind of patrons I would be working with and what their expectations would be. I am happy to report that it’s been a great year. Over the past year, I’ve …
Posted in: Blind Musicians, Braille and Audio Reading Download BARD, Braille Music, NLS Music Section
Posted by: John Hanson
A couple of years ago, I received an email inquiry from an NLS music section patron wanting to know if we would accept gift braille music, from his personal collection. I said we would be glad to receive whatever he wanted to send. He, then, responded by asking if we could send him some empty …
Posted in: Blind Musicians, Braille Music, Free Braille Music Scores, Music Instruction, Piano
Posted by: Mary Dell Jenkins
With the help of one of our dedicated transcribers and patron Audrey Joy , we have received a steady supply of Motown hits every week ready to go in the embossing queue. When I read through these titles, the melodies come to my ears immediately, and I don’t think I EVER heard anyone say they …
Posted in: Blind Musicians, Braille, Braille Music, Motown, NLS Music Section, Popular Music, Rhythm & Blues (R&B), Soul Music
Posted by: Amanda Smith
Recently, I discovered that September is the birth month of Blind Lemon Jefferson, a tried and true guitar player and singer who is celebrated in the American folk-blues world. It’s been awhile since I’ve celebrated a musician’s birthday on this blog, by writing a post about their career and lasting accomplishments. I can’t resist the …
Posted in: Blind Musicians, Blues, Music History and Appreciation, Popular Music
Posted by: John Hanson
The following is a guest blog by Gilbert Busch, Braille Music Specialist in the Music Section. We braille music readers, knowing that many scores will never be in braille, are sometimes surprised when a work we need has already been transcribed. This is just what happened to me a few months ago. It was …
Posted in: Blind Musicians, Braille and Audio Reading Download BARD, Braille Music, NLS Music Section
Posted by: Mary Dell Jenkins
As this post is published, I hope everyone is preparing for the July 4th celebration. Along with fireworks, grilling at picnics, sunflowers, ice cream and the patriotic significance of this date, I enjoy a parade–any parade. Especially those with floats, clowns, men with funny hats, and of course, marching bands. This most recent Memorial Day …
Posted in: Band, Blind Musicians, Braille, Braille Music, Choral, Music Education, Music Instruction, NLS Music Section
Posted by: John Hanson
In 1863, the Imperial Institute for the Young Blind in Paris published a “Collection of Organ Pieces” —“for the special use of students at the Institute.” These pieces were all composed by professors of music at the Institute, all of whom had been students there also. They are Gabriel Gauthier, Marius Gueit, Victor Paul, and …
Posted in: American Printing House for the Blind, Blind Musicians, Braille, Braille Music, Institut national des jeunes aveugles, Louis Braille
Posted by: John Hanson
We have written – more than once – about Music Section patron Justin Kauflin. Last October, Justin performed a wonderful jazz set at the Library of Congress celebrating 50 years of service by the NLS Music Section, and demonstrating his prowess and creativity at the keyboard. Thanks to technology, Justin’s performance can now be heard …
Posted in: Blind Musicians, Jazz, NLS Concerts, Piano
Posted by: Katie Rodda
Although St. Patrick’s Day may remind you of tin whistles, bodhráns, bagpipes (even though bagpipes are, strictly speaking, Scottish–the Irish musical tradition uses Uilleann pipes), or some other such traditional Irish instrument, one may neglect to think of the Celtic harp. The Celtic Harp and O’Carolan The harp is ubiquitous to most musical cultures, but …
Posted in: Audio, Blind Musicians, Braille, Braille and Audio Reading Download BARD, Braille Music, Instrumental Music, NLS Online Catalog