Top of page

Category: Braille

Close-up of the fingers of two hands as the touch a paged filled with raised dots

An American Classic: Irving Berlin

Posted by: Katie Rodda

We’ve discussed show-tunes, Broadway, and the Great American Songbook on the blog before, but we have yet to talk about perhaps one of the most influential composers of American standards: Irving Berlin, who happens to celebrate his 129th birthday today. Along with penning a few Broadway scores, including the score for Annie Get Your Gun, …

Close-up of the fingers of two hands as the touch a paged filled with raised dots

Over the Rainbow, and More: Part 2

Posted by: Gilbert Busch

This is a continuation of my survey of songs recently added to the LOC’s National Recording Registry, indicating where they may be found in the NLS music collection. (Note that Over the Rainbow was covered in last week’s blog.) Puttin’ on the Ritz Harry Richmond’s 1929 recording of this Irving Berlin song was added to …

Close-up of the fingers of two hands as the touch a paged filled with raised dots

Over the Rainbow, and More: Part 1

Posted by: Gilbert Busch

Every year, 25 recordings are added to the LOC’s National Recording registry, recordings that are considered “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.” The purpose of this blog is not to list all 25 of them, but to highlight those where the song is part of the NLS Music collection. Most of these items may be downloaded …

Close-up of the fingers of two hands as the touch a paged filled with raised dots

Ganne, Alford, Holst, and Others: Music of World War I

Posted by: Katie Rodda

This April marks the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entry into World War I. The Library of Congress is commemorating that significant anniversary with exhibits, publications, and other various activities. As part of this commemoration, the NLS Music Section was asked to provide braille music for blind visitors. While going through the collection, we …

Close-up of the fingers of two hands as the touch a paged filled with raised dots

An Interview with Stephanie Pieck, Part 1

Posted by: Donna Koh

I am excited to share my interview with Stephanie Pieck, a pianist, teacher, and an NLS patron. Stephanie received her bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Ithaca College and maintains a private music studio in New York. Q) How old were you when you started playing the piano? What motivated you to start playing? A) …

Close-up of the fingers of two hands as the touch a paged filled with raised dots

A Miniaturist and More

Posted by: Gilbert Busch

For many music lovers, the end of January brings to mind two birthdays: Mozart’s on the 27th, and Schubert’s on the 31st. Could a composer born between these two giants, end up being overlooked? Perhaps. It was while preparing my blog about the Viking Opera Guide (BRM29585) that I learned that the 29th of January …

Close-up of the fingers of two hands as the touch a paged filled with raised dots

Newest BARD Additions

Posted by: Katie Rodda

Since we are on a roll talking about BARD, I thought it would be good to highlight some of the new (or newly digitized) titles that we’ve uploaded to BARD over the past few weeks. Talking Books Uncle Dave Macon (DBM03766) This is a look at “Uncle Dave” Macon (also known as “The Dixie Dewdrop) and …

Close-up of the fingers of two hands as the touch a paged filled with raised dots

For Braille Readers—A Real Treasure Trove

Posted by: Gilbert Busch

This afternoon, I looked at the Metropolitan Opera schedule, which appears in the October-December issue of our quarterly magazine The Musical Mainstream. It lists all of the operas to be performed, along with NLS materials, librettos, lectures, etc., pertaining to the operas. Nowhere did I find any mention of a reference book that I read …

Close-up of the fingers of two hands as the touch a paged filled with raised dots

A Four Hour Concert in an Unheated Hall

Posted by: Katie Rodda

On this day, over two hundred years ago, a historic concert took place. It was in Vienna, in the middle of the Advent season, and Beethoven needed some money. “But, Beethoven,” you would say, “surely he was doing fine! He is Beethoven! Everyone loves him!” However, in Vienna in 1808, just because everyone loved you …