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Category: Braille

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American Music from A to Z in the NLS Music Collection: E—Eastman School of Music

Posted by: Brian McCurdy

In our alphabetical journey through the NLS Music Collection, we have arrived this month at the letter E. 2021 is the centennial of the founding of one of the world's leading music schools, the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Composers, educators, performers, and other music pioneers from this prestigious institution are represented far and wide throughout our holdings.

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Hidden Gems of the NLS Collection: Toccata, Villancico y Fuga, Op. 18 by Alberto Ginastera

Posted by: Brian McCurdy

September 15 through October 15 is National Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month. It is a time when we celebrate the generations of Hispanic and Latino Americans that have contributed to our society in positive and meaningful ways. On our journey through the treasures of the NLS Music collection, we recently came across a wonderful work written for organ by Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983), the Toccata, Villancico y Fuga, Op. 18. While this work is performed by organists on a regular basis, the rest of us would benefit from learning more about both the composer and the composition.

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New BARD Additions: August 2021

Posted by: Brian McCurdy

This month, the NLS Music Section has added many new materials to BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download), including songs by Adele, Johnny Cash, and Broadway's Robert Lopez! There are also new piano lessons from Bill Brown and new transcriptions of the Tradition of Excellence concert band method. Read on to learn more about our latest digital offerings!

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Song Stories: Samuel Barber’s “Knoxville: Summer of 1915”

Posted by: Brian McCurdy

For this installment of "Song Stories", we are going to explore how James Agee's prose and Samuel Barber's music came together for "Knoxville: Summer of 1915."

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Hidden Gems of the NLS Collection: “Some South-Paw Pitching” by Charles Ives

Posted by: Brian McCurdy

Now that baseball season is well underway, the NLS Music Section invites you to learn more about "Some South-Paw Pitching" by Charles Ives.

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Hidden Gems of the NLS Collection: Six Chansons by Paul Hindemith

Posted by: Brian McCurdy

For this week's NLS Music Notes blog, learn more about one of the hidden gems in our collection: Paul Hindemith's "Six Chansons."

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New BARD Additions: March 2021

Posted by: Brian McCurdy

Happy Spring, music lovers! We are thrilled to present the NLS Music Section's newest additions to BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download). There are new concerts and lectures from the American Folklife Center, instructional materials for piano and guitar by Bill Brown, and a new transcription for piano of "The Sorcerer's Apprentice."

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NLS 90th Anniversary Virtual Concert with Matthew Whitaker

Posted by: Brian McCurdy

The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), Library of Congress, will kick off its 90th anniversary celebration with a free virtual concert by jazz pianist Matthew Whitaker on Wednesday, March 3, at 8:00 p.m. (EST)—and you’re invited!