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Posted by: Katie Rodda
“Over there! Over there!” “I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy…” “You’re a grand old flag, you’re a high flying flag!” Do these songs seem familiar to you? Did you know that they were all written by the same composer, George M. Cohan? George M. Cohan (he’s usually referred to by his full name, middle initial and …
Posted in: Audio, Braille, Braille and Audio Reading Download BARD, Braille Music, Broadway, Large Print, Large Print Music, Popular Music, Talking Books
Posted by: Katie Rodda
Guitar, bass, vocals, drums, piano…the makings of any good pop record, right? For our patrons out there who are looking to rock out to some pop music, we’ve got you covered. In a post from last September, my colleague Mary Dell Jenkins discussed our series of “Popular Music Lead Sheets,” which offers popular music selections …
Posted in: Audio, Braille and Audio Reading Download BARD, Guitar instruction, Music Instruction, NLS Music Section, Popular Music, Popular Music Lead Sheets, Rhythm & Blues (R&B), Soul 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: Katie Rodda
Today (September 10th) we celebrate Henry Purcell’s 356th birthday [Note: this date is actually disputed as no official baptismal record has been found. However, we will use this commonly accepted date, as it gives us a chance to talk about his music!]. Purcell’s contribution to Western classical music is indispensable, as it has influenced numerous other …
Posted in: Audio, Braille, Braille and Audio Reading Download BARD, Braille Music, Choral, Instrumental Music, Music History and Appreciation, Music Instruction, NLS Music Section, NLS Online Catalog, Recordings, Talking Books, Voyager Catalog
Posted by: Mary Dell Jenkins
September signifies many things to us–cooler temperatures, leaves starting to turn, and…back to school! I would like to showcase some of the items requested with increasing frequency as the semester begins. We have some new titles and some that would be helpful if you’re looking for a guide. Most of these are intended for college …
Posted in: Braille, Braille and Audio Reading Download BARD, Braille Music, Choral, Large Print Music, Music Education, Music History and Appreciation, Music Instruction, NLS Music Section, NLS Online Catalog, Performing music, Uncategorized, Voyager Catalog
Posted by: Katie Rodda
Continuing our series of interviews with narrators from NLS’s own studio, I got a chance to sit down and talk with narrator Julian Thompson. Recently, Julian has recorded the liner notes for one of our Smithsonian Folkways books, Richmond Blues (DBM 03642). In addition, he has also narrated a number of books about music and musicians in …
Posted in: Audio, Blues, Braille and Audio Reading Download BARD, Jazz, Music History and Appreciation, NLS Music Section, Soul Music
Posted by: Katie Rodda
Tomorrow we celebrate the birthday of one of the Twentieth Century’s most well-known composers and music pedagogues, Carl Orff (1895-1982). Although Orff may be best known for his cantata Carmina Burana, he is also quite well-known in the music education field because of “Orff Schulwerk,” an elementary approach to music he co-developed with his colleague Gunild …
Posted in: Audio, Braille, Braille and Audio Reading Download BARD, Braille Music, Choral, Juvenile Music, Music Education, Music History and Appreciation, Music Instruction, NLS Music Section, NLS Online Catalog, Talking Books
Posted by: Katie Rodda
The NLS Music Section has recently acquired another new title by popular and prolific contributor, Bill Irwin. Patrons of the Music Section, and followers of this blog, may already be aware of Mr. Irwin’s background. If you wish to read more about Bill Irwin, please check out our blog post from June of last year, …
Posted in: Audio, Blues, Braille and Audio Reading Download BARD, Instrumental Music, Jazz, Music History and Appreciation, Performing music, Piano, 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