We’d also like to take a moment to share what else we’re thankful for this season. We’re grateful for the exciting advancements at NLS, including the much-anticipated rollouts of the Digital Advanced Player 2 (DA-2), the NLS Braille eReader, and BARD 2.0, all major steps forward as NLS continues to innovate! We’re likewise appreciative of our colleagues across the NLS network, whose partnership ensures accessible materials reach patrons nationwide. Most of all, we’re thankful for our patrons, who inspire us with their stories, accomplishments, and suggestions that help the Music Section grow. There are many more people and efforts worthy of thanks, but please know how grateful we are to everyone who supports the mission of the Music Section: “That All May Read – Music!”

Although we did not have as much added to BARD this month due to the government shutdown, we still have several braille titles to share with you. From the libretto for Die Fledermaus (a traditional holiday favorite!), to two Rachmaninoff scores (one for strings and one for piano), plus a few more! Now onto to the BARD additions for this month:

Organ

Franck, César. Cantabile. No. 2 of 3 Pièces: Pour le grand Orgue. Bar by bar format. (BRM23695)

Piano

Rachmaninoff, Sergei. Variations on a Theme of Corelli: Piano: op. 42. Bar over bar format. (BRM26340)

Piano Instruction

Faber, Nancy & Randall. Accelerated Piano Adventures: Lesson Book: Book 2: For the Older Beginner. Bar over bar format. (BRM38055)

Accelerated Piano Adventures: Theory Book: Book 2: For the Older Beginner. Bar over bar format. (BRM38056)

Royal Conservatory of Music. Celebration Series Perspectives: Piano Repertoire 7. Bar over bar format (BRT38058)

Libretti

Haffner, Carl and Richard Genée. Die Fledermaus (Libretto). English contracted braille. (BRM37828)

String Instruments

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus. Sinfonia Concertante in E-Flat Major For Violin, Viola, And Orchestra, KV 364 (320d). Single line format. (BRT38015)

Rachmaninoff, Sergei. Sonate pour Piano et Violoncelle, op. 19. Single line and bar over bar format. (BRT38017)

Vocal

Franz, Robert. I Wander This Summer Morning: Am Leuchtenden Sommermorgen: Op. 11, no. 2. Line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM27144)

Glenn, Mabelle and Bernard Taylor (ed). French Art Songs for School and Studio: Issued for Medium High Voice. For medium voice and piano in line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM20537)

Prahl, Victor (arr). Vocal Duets (Secular): Vol. 1: For Voices of Medium Range.  For 2 voices and piano in line by line format. (BRM04929)

Stravinsky, Igor. Pastorale: From “Fifty Art Songs from the Modern Repertoire.” For voice and piano in line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM20466)

Please note that all materials listed above are also available to borrow by mail, not only through BARD. Please contact the Music Section to borrow talking books on digital cartridge or to borrow hard copies of braille music. Call us at 1-800-424-8567, ext. 2, or e-mail us at nlsm@loc.gov.

If you are new to BARD, you can find more information about signing up here: Sign up for BARD and Accessing BARD.

We’re back with more Bill Brown lessons on piano and guitar! For pianists, he will teach you how to play the “Ozdust Duet” from the film version of “Wicked,” and the beloved song “The Rainbow Connection” from “The Muppet Movie.” Guitarists will be able to learn fingerstyle solos to “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and “Killing me Softly.”

Our braille patrons will be thrilled with our wide variety of music that is now available on BARD. We’ve added several of the preludes from the opus 32 set by Sergei Rachmaninoff, as well as a piano transcription of Maurice Ravel’s “La Valse.” Picking up from last month, we are continuing to add titles from the “Celebration Series: Perspectives” from the Royal College of Music piano library. Finally, with the Winter holiday season right around the corner, we’ve added two collections of Christmas carols.

You can also borrow materials below by mail, not only through BARD. Simply contact the Music Section to borrow talking books on digital cartridge or embossed copies of braille music. Call us at 1-800-424-8567, ext. 2, or e-mail us at nlsm@loc.gov.

For more information about getting started with BARD, use this link: Sign up for BARD and Accessing BARD.

Audio

Music Instruction

Piano

Brown, Bill. Beginner Boogie Solos, Volume 1. (DBM04725)

____ Ozdust Duet. As composed by Stephen Schwartz for the film version of “Wicked.” (DBM04735)

____ The Rainbow Connection. As performed in “The Muppet Movie.” (DBM04736)

Guitar

Brown, Bill. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Finger style solo in the style of Elton John. (DBM04737)

____ Killing Me Softly. As performed by Roberta Flack. (DBM04740)

Braille

Choral

Shaw, Martin. With a Voice of Singing. For mixed chorus in line by line format. 4 braille volumes combined into one digital volume. (BRM04614)

Thompson, Randall. The God Who Gave us Life. From “The Testament of Freedom.”  For mixed chorus (TTBB) in line by line format. (BRM04796)

Libretti

Stravinsky, Igor. Oedipus Rex and The Rake’s Progress. Latin text with translation in English contracted braille. (BRM30068)

Multiple Instruments

Beethoven, Ludwig van. Trio in E-flat major, op. 38. For clarinet or violin, cello and piano. Single line and bar over bar format. (BRM25646)

Music Appreciation

Royal Conservatory of Music. Celebrate Theory: Level 9, History. Explores styles, genres, composers and works from the Middle Ages to the Modern Era. Contains musical examples in line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM38049)

Piano

Beethoven, Ludwig van. Complete Bagatelles for Piano. Bar over bar format. (BRM38047)

Bizet, Georges. L’Arlésienne: Incidental Music to the Melodrama by Alphonse Daudet. Bar over bar format. (BRM22087)

Field, John. Nocturne no. 7 in A major. Bar over bar format. (BRM02845)

Rachmaninoff, Sergei. Prelude no.1 in C major, op. 32. Bar over bar format. (BRM35052)

____ Prelude no. 2 in B-flat minor, op. 32. Bar over bar format. (BRM35053)

____ Prelude no. 5 in G major, op. 32. Bar over bar format. (BRM35057)

____ Prelude no. 6 in F minor, op. 32. Bar over bar format. (BRM35054)

____ Prelude no. 7 in F minor, op. 32. Bar over bar format. (BRM35056)

____ Prelude no. 8 in A minor, op. 32. Bar over bar format. (BRM35055)

____ Prelude no. 9 in A major, op. 32. Bar over bar format. (BRM35068)

____ Prelude no. 12 in G-sharp minor, op. 32. Bar over bar format. (BRM35065)

____ Prelude no 13 in D-flat major, op. 32. Bar over bar format. (BRM35073)

Ravel, Maurice. La Valse. Originally for orchestra. Arranged for piano in bar over bar format. (BRM17987)

Royal Conservatory of Music. Celebration Series Perspectives: Etudes 3. Bar over bar format. (BRT38043)

____ Celebration Series Perspectives: Etudes 4. Bar over bar format. (BRT38046)

____ Celebration Series Perspectives: Etudes 5. Bar over bar format. (BRT38051)

____ Celebration Series Perspectives: Piano Repertoire 3. Bar over bar format. (BRT38042)

____ Celebration Series Perspectives: Piano Repertoire 4. Bar over bar format. (BRT38045)

____ Celebration Series Perspectives: Piano Repertoire 5. Bar over bar format. (BRT38050)

____ Celebration Series Perspectives: Piano Repertoire 6. Bar over bar format. (BRT38053)

Violin

Moszkowski, Moritz. Suite in G minor. For two violins and piano in single line and bar over bar format. (BRM38048)

Mozart, W.A. Sonaten für Violine und Klavier: Nr. 6 in G-dur. Paragraph format. (BRM26377)

Paganini, Nicolò. Concerto no. 1 in D major. Arranged for violin and piano in single line and bar over bar format. (BRM20541)

Vocal

Cofone, J. F. Charles. Favorite Christmas Carols. Voice line with piano accompaniment and guitar chords. Line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM29003)

Rodeheaver, Ruthella. Collection of Christmas Carols. Taken from “Christmas Customs and Carols.” Words only in English contracted braille. (BRM30471)

Wind Instruments

Bennett, David. Deepwood. For bass clarinet and piano. Single line and bar over bar format. (BRM38044)

Please note that all materials listed below are also available to borrow by mail, not only through BARD. Please contact the Music Section to borrow talking books on digital cartridge or to borrow hard copies of braille music. Call us at 1-800-424-8567, ext. 2, or e-mail us at nlsm@loc.gov. If you are new to BARD, you can find more information about signing up here: Sign up for BARD and Accessing BARD.

Audio

Piano

Brown, Bill. Chariots Of Fire, for Piano, as performed by Vangelis, Early Intermediate Lesson. For piano. Bill Brown teaches you how to play this iconic movie theme completely by ear. (DBM04729)

____ Panis angelicus, as composed by César Franck, for Piano Late Beginner Lesson. Bill Brown teaches you how to play this timeless hymn completely by ear. (DBM04724)

Braille

Orchestra

Brahms, Johannes. Wiegenlied = Cradle Song. Arranged for string orchestra and piano in section by section and bar over bar format. (BRM22054)

Piano

Bach, Johann Sebastian. Inventions in two and three parts. Originally for harpsichord, this version for piano in section by section format. (BRM17989)

Chopin, Frédéric. Grande valse brillante, op. 18, no. 1. For piano in section by section format. (BRM20546)

Grieg, Edvard. Albumblätter = Album Leaves, Op. 28. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRM06441)

Royal Conservatory of Music. Celebration Series Perspectives, Etudes 1, Piano Studies. Features works by many composers in bar over bar format. (BRT38038)

____ Royal Conservatory of Music. Celebration Series Perspectives, Etudes 2, Piano Studies. A continuation of the previous title, this book contains 13 selections from various classical periods. (BRT38040)

____ Royal Conservatory of Music. Celebration Series Perspectives, Piano Repertoire 1. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRT38039)

Respighi, Ottorino. Notturno. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRM22224)

Piano Duets

Diller, Angela. First Duet Book for the Piano. For one piano, four hands, in bar over bar format. (BRM07740)

Gershwin, George. Rhapsody in Blue. For two pianos, four hands in in bar over bar format. Piano one part only (solo piano part). (BRM17977)

Piano Ensemble

Beethoven, Ludwig Van. Trio VII [i.e. VI], op. 97. For piano, violin, and violoncello in single line and bar over bar formats. (BRM25927)

Popular Vocal

Ledner, Michael. You Are My Hiding Place. For two voices and piano in line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM38035)

String Instruments

Gillespie, Robert. Essential Elements 2000 for Strings, Viola Book 1, a Comprehensive String Method. For viola in single line format. (BRM36647)

Goltermann, Georg. Concerto 1 in A Minor, Op. 14, for Cello. Solo cello part in line by line format. (BRM22075)

Vocal

Adler, Kurt. Operatic Anthology, Volume 1 Soprano, Celebrated Arias Selected from Operas by Old and Modern Composers. In line by line format. (BRM22085)

Brahms, Johannes. Brahms-Album, Band 2, Ausgewählte Lieder , Für Eine Singstimme mit Klavierbegleitung. Paragraph format. (BRM25047)

Head, Michael. Sweet Chance, That Led My Steps Abroad. Song from Songs of the Countryside. For low voice and piano in line by line format. (BRM23775)

Quilter, Roger. Go, Lovely Rose, Op. 24, No. 3. For voice and piano in bar by bar format. (BRM06208)

____ It Was a Lover and His Lass, No. 3 of Five Shakespeare Songs, Op. 23 (Second Set). For voice and piano in line by line format. (BRM23795)

____ June. For voice and piano in line by line format. (BRM23788)

____ To Julia, Six Lyrics of Robert Herrick , Op. 8. For voice and piano in bar by bar format. (BRM01438)

Taylor, Bernard. Great Art Songs of Three Centuries. For voice and piano in line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM20589)

 Vaughan Williams, Ralph. Bright is the Ring of Words. From “Songs of Travel” for voice and piano in line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM17171)

Ward, Samuel A. Four Patriotic Songs. The Star Spangled Banner; My Country Tis of Thee; America, the Beautiful; and The Battle Hymn of the Republic. For unison voices in paragraph format. (BRM04693)

Wind Instruments

Chopin, Frederic. Étude, op. 25, no. 7. Arranged for bass clarinet and piano by Dan McGlaun in line by line and bar over bar formats. (BRM38036)

Lautzenheiser, Tim. Essential Elements 2000, A Comprehensive Band Method , B Flat Trumpet, Book 1. In single line format. (BRM34657)

Rose, Cyrille. Forty Studies = 40 Etudes. For clarinet in line by line format. (BRM22882)

Q: Throughout your years of teaching and certifying braille music transcribers, are there any moments or teaching experiences that particularly stood out to you, times when you felt especially proud or moved by the work?

A: Countless times, throughout my 23 years of teaching the braille music transcription course, I have been thrilled by the students’ talents, abilities, versatility, generosity, and thoughtfulness.  Again and again, these transcribers have met and surpassed the highest standards.  Besides continuing to function as outstanding performers and teachers, these transcribers have publicly excelled by fulfilling leadership roles in the braille world, by brailling all kinds of music for individuals and for NLS, and by devising notation for transcription challenges from tablature to Broadway musicals to contemporary piano music.  Just as significant are the private achievements of persevering through personal difficulties, discerning the nuances of intricate lessons, and suddenly making huge strides in accuracy and comprehension.  As a teacher, I was happy to stand by and encourage; but the real credit belongs to the students.

Q:  What was one of the most complex or unusual pieces of music you ever transcribed or reviewed, and what did it teach you about the art of braille music transcription?

A: For the past seven years, as NLS continues to digitize the music collection, I have had the privilege of helping to verify the accuracy of the scans.  Character by character, an embossed copy of the scanned file is compared with a hard copy of the original transcription.  Some of these scores were transcribed by individuals in the pre-computer era; other scores were published by the American Printing House for the Blind 80 to a 100 years ago.  Besides verifying the accuracy of the scans, we add explanations of unusual formats or symbols so that today’s braille reader can understand the details of the music.

In working on the scanned files, I encountered BRM24578, the incredibly complex seventh piano sonata by Scriabin.  I still marvel at the transcriber’s skill and dedication, as well as the musicianship and determination of any braille reader who memorizes and performs such thorny music.  At the same time, I realize that there are immense challenges in any transcription exercise or braille music score, no matter how elementary the item might seem to be.  From the very beginning (the key signature, the time signature, and the first octave mark), neither the transcriber nor the braille reader can afford a lapse in attention or accuracy.

Q:  How has braille music changed since you first learned it, and what changes have you found most exciting or most challenging?

A: As a child in the 1950s, I felt that braille music was hard to find, hard to decipher, and hard to execute.  Why was braille music so inaccessible, I wondered, when I could so easily read literary braille (not to mention gleefully playing tunes on the piano by ear)?  Learning to love braille music was a long process.

The first positive step occurred in the early 1960s while I was learning to play a growing number of popular music standards.  When I discovered the Canadian melody-chord system, I purchased a subscription to the new titles, which were delivered to me once a week.  At about the same time the NLS Music Section was established so that, suddenly, braille music for instruction and performance was no longer hard to find.  Today, of course, we have wonderful, readily available instructional materials in braille and audio formats; thus, braille music is not nearly so mysterious as it was in the 1950s.

And how splendidly transformative the computer has proved to be for all of us in the sphere of braille music!  Through BARD and other archives, we can instantaneously download and duplicate what we need without waiting for weeks or months to obtain a precious single copy.  For new transcriptions, the computer enables us to correct, disseminate, and multiply the music in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago.  Furthermore, e-mail has vastly enhanced the teaching of braille music transcription.  Receiving the lesson exercises as attachments, I could often respond within a day or just a few hours, while the lesson was still fresh in the student’s mind.  I also like the idea of checking YouTube so that I can hear an expert (or a struggling amateur) perform a piece which I might eventually want to learn to play or sing through braille.  Listening to a performance can be the braille reader’s equivalent of sight reading an unfamiliar score.

Q: You’ve been called a Renaissance woman, and rightly so.  How have your other interests (in poetry, law, languages, etc.) shaped your approach to music and teaching braille?

A: I like to think in terms of enrichment rather than compartmentalization.  The more we know and experience many things, the more empathetic we can be as teachers and as performers.  One of my favorite teachers said that whenever we sing a song, the performance includes everything that we have ever associated with it.  The same teacher encouraged me to develop images to enrich the situation.  So sometimes while singing a song, I may envision myself as standing in a friendly swimming pool of warm water (if I concentrate, I can even smell the chlorine).  At other times, when I become discouraged by a difficult passage in the piano music of Mozart or Beethoven or Brahms, I think of the baseball player who routinely takes batting practice and steps up to the plate—even though he knows that a strikeout or groundout is far more likely than a booming home run.

Q: As you retire from this official role, what do you hope the next generation of music transcribers and educators will carry forward from your work and legacy?

A: As transcribers and teachers and performers and listeners, we recognize that music—and the ability to enjoy it—are gifts from God.  Music is not necessary for our physical survival, but how barren our world would be without the blessings of music!  Besides appreciating these blessings individually, let us share them as graciously and generously as we can.  I am ever grateful that Louis Braille devised the braille music code and that we have the privileges of treasuring it, perpetuating it, and—if need be—fighting for it.  Even on the toughest days, let us cherish braille music as a source of strength and happiness.

Q: Thank you, Karen, for taking the time to speak with us, and above all, thank you for everything you have done to expand access to braille music and to support generations of transcribers. We wish you all the very best for your well-deserved retirement.

For our readers, please also consider reading the 2018 blog interview here:

https://blogs.loc.gov/nls-music-notes/2018/01/braille-music-transcriber-and-renaissance-woman-karen-gearreald/

If you want to learn more about the NLS Music Section, please feel free to reach out and call us at 1-800-424-8567, ext. 2 or email us at nlsm@loc.gov.

If you are interested in learning more about the Library of Congress’ certificate program for braille music transcription, check out the following link: Braille Certification Program.

Please note that all materials listed below are also available to borrow by mail, not only through BARD. Please contact the Music Section to borrow talking books on digital cartridge or to borrow hard copies of braille music. Call us at 1-800-424-8567, ext. 2, or e-mail us at nlsm@loc.gov.

If you are new to BARD, you can find more information about signing up here: Sign up for BARD and Accessing BARD.

Braille

Accordion

Dvořák, Antonín.  Slavonic Dance, No. 2, Duet. Arranged by Frank Gaviani for two accordions in section by section format.  (BRM27358)

Frank, Erik. Novelty Accordion – Harmonika. For accordion in section by section format. (BRM28427)

Guitar

Brody, David. The Guitar Picker’s Fakebook. Transcribed according to the Owens System of Braille Tablature. (BRM38034)

Music Theory

Henry, Mary and Marilyn Jones. Songs for Sight Singing – High School SATB. For voice and piano in line by line and bar over bar formats. (BRM37875)

Organ

Vierne, Louis. Deuxième symphonie pour grand orgue, op. 20. For organ in bar over bar format. (BRM38030)

Piano

Anderson, Leroy. The Syncopated Clock – Solo. For piano in bar over bar format.  (BRM38025)

Bach, Johann Sebastian. Seven Toccatas (BWV 910-916). For piano in paragraph format. (BRM27160)

Bock, Fred (arranger). Jesus Loves Me (based on “Clair de lune”). For piano in bar over bar format. (BRM38026)

Brahms, Johannes. Rhapsody No. 1 in B minor for the Pianoforte, op. 79. For piano in bar by bar format. (BRM05735)

Rachmaninoff, Sergei. Preludes for Piano, op. 32 no. 11. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRM35075)

Ravel, Maurice. Concerto pour piano et orchestre. For two pianos in bar over bar format. (BRM17778)

Popular Vocal

Baker, Richard. Never A Man Like Him. For voice and piano in line by line and bar over bar formats. (BRM38027)

The Galway Piper – Old Irish Melody. For voice and piano in line by line and bar over bar formats. (BRM38029)

Mars, Bruno. 24k Magic. For voice and guitar or piano in single line and bar over bar format. (BRM38032)

National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. Popular Music Lead Sheets – No. 140. In lead sheet format with melody, words, and chord symbols. (BRM38028)

National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. Popular Music Lead Sheets – No. 141. In lead sheet format with melody, words, and chord symbols. (BRM38033)

Romberg, Sigmund. Will You Remember (Sweetheart). From the musical “Maytime” for high voice and piano in line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM38031)

Vocal

Brahms, Johannes. Brahms-Album, Band 1 – Ausgewählte Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Klavierbegleitung. For voice and piano in paragraph format. (BRM25046)
Sapphic Ode. For voice and piano in line by line format. (BRM27063)

Schubert, Franz. Lieder nach Texten verschiedener Dichter, op. 4, 7, 13, 41, 44, 56, 72, 88. For voice in section by section format. (BRM32943)

Wind Instruments

Harris, Paul. Improve Your Sight-Reading! A Workbook for Examinations – Oboe, Grades 4 and 5. For oboe in single line format. (BRM34485)

For more information about getting started with using BARD, please visit the following page: Sign up for BARD and Accessing BARD.

You can also borrow the materials listed below by mail, not only through BARD. Simply contact the Music Section to borrow talking books on digital cartridge or embossed copies of braille music. Call us at 800-424-8567, extension 2, or e-mail us at nlsm@loc.gov.

Braille

Piano

Bach, Johann Sebastian. Bach-Album: A Collection of Twenty-one Favorite Pieces for Pianoforte. Arranged and edited for piano from various mediums by Sara Heinze. Bar over bar format. (BRM30890)

____ Toccata con fuga in C minor. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRM02520)

Bartók, Béla. Rondo in C. No. 1 of three rondos on folk tunes for the piano. Bar over bar format. (BRM37792)

Bizet, Georges. L’Arlésienne, Suite no. 1. Revised by Ernest Reeves. For piano in bar by bar format. (BRM02194)

Chopin, Frédéric. Twelve studies, op. 25, nos. 1-6. Revised by C. Klindworth and X. Scharwenka. Bar by bar format. (BRM02558)

Clementi, Muzio. 6 Sonatinas for Piano, op. 36. Bar by bar format. (BRM02247)

Everybody’s Perfect, Volume 1: Masterpieces. Selected and edited by Carole L Bigler and Valery Lloyd-Watts. Bar over bar format. (BRM38023)

Voice

Beethoven, Ludwig van. An die ferne Geliebte, ein Liederkreis, op. 98. For voice and piano in paragraph format. (BRM24983)

Quilter, Roger. Three Shakespeare Songs (1st set), op. 6. For high voice and piano in line by line and bar by bar formats. (BRM24161)

Rodgers, Richard. Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific: Vocal Selections. For voice and piano or guitar in line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM38024)

We’ve added two new items to our audio collection that showcase the work of the Music Section and our patrons. You can listen to an interview with one of our talented patrons, the composer and pianist Hwaen Ch’uqi, and you can also learn more about the history and format of our Popular Music Lead Sheets from our braille music specialist, Timothy Jones.

Thanks to the Marrakesh Treaty, we’ve been able to acquire a collection of Korean folk songs for guitar and Mendelssohn’s Sonata no. 2 for cello and piano from the National Library for the Disabled in South Korea. Other recent braille additions also include excerpts from the opera “The Tender Land,” music from the ballet “Billy the Kid,” and the Piano Variations by Aaron Copland. Finally, Broadway fans will be delighted to know that we have acquired selections from the hit musical, “The Band’s Visit.”

You can also borrow materials below by mail, not only through BARD. Simply contact the Music Section to borrow talking books on digital cartridge or embossed copies of braille music. Call us at 1-800-424-8567, ext. 2, or e-mail us at nlsm@loc.gov.

For more information about getting started with BARD, use this link: Sign up for BARD and Accessing BARD.

Audio

Music Appreciation

National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. NLS  Music Notes: Interview with Pianist and Composer Hwaen Ch’uqi. Hosted by Katie Rodda. (DBM04723)

____ NLS Music Notes: PMLS History and Lead Sheet Format. Presents the history of the NLS Music Section’s braille publication Popular Music Lead Sheets (PMLS) and describes how it is produced. Provides an introduction to using the lead sheet format in braille. Presented by Mary Dell Jenkins and Timothy Jones. Hosted by Juliette Appold. (DBM04722)

Braille

 Guitar

Bach, J. S. Präludium, Fuge und Allegro, BWV 998. Originally for lute, arranged for guitar in section by section format. (BRM35638)

Dara Publishing. Korean Folk Songs for Folk Guitar. A collection of Korean folk songs transcribed for guitar. Bar over bar format. (BRT38013)

Music Theory

Aldwell, Edward. Harmony and Voice Leading: Books 1 and 2. English contracted braille with musical examples in single line and bar over bar format. 22 Volumes. (BRM27941)

Organ

Ives, Charles. Variations on “America” for Organ and “Adeste Fidelis” in an Organ Prelude. Bar over bar format. (BRM34489)

Keller, Hermann. Achtzig Choralvorspiele deutscher Meister des 17 und 18 Jahrhunderts. Eighty Chorale Preludes by German Masters of the 17th and 18th Centuries. Edited by Hermann Keller. Bar over bar format. (BRM24448)

Varon, Nelson. The Joy of Music: Easy Arrangements. A collection of popular favorites, folk, waltzes, standards etc., arranged by Nelson Varon. Easy arrangements for all organs with chord names and lyrics. (BRM29211)

Piano

Copland, Aaron. Billy the Kid: Excerpts from the Ballet. Arranged for two pianos, four hands, in bar over bar format. (BRM20403)

____ Piano Variations. Bar over bar format. (BRM17946)

____ Sunday Afternoon Music. Bar over bar format. (BRM28780)

____ The Young Pioneers. Bar over bar format. (BRM28779)

Gershwin, George. Gershwin: Complete Works for Solo Piano. Bar over bar format. (BRM38021)

Masters of our Day: 18 Solos in the Contemporary Idiom for the Young Pianist. Bar over bar format. (BRM36936)

Moscheles, Ignaz. Studies for Piano, op. 70, nos. 5-8. Bar by bar format. (BRM24152)

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus. Fantasia in C minor, K. 385. Bar by bar format. (BRM24917)

Strings

Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Felix. Sonata no. 2 in D major, op. 58. For cello and piano in single line and bar over bar format. (BRT38014)

Vocal

Boytim, Joan Frey. The Second Book of Soprano Solos, Part II. Compiled by Joan Frey Boytim. For high voice and piano in line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM38009)

Copland, Aaron. I Bought me a Cat from “Old American Songs.” Transcribed for three-part men’s chorus and solos by Irving Fine. For T.B.B. and T.B.B. solos with piano accompaniment in bar over bar format. (BRM13626)

____ The Little Horses. No. 1 of “Old American Songs.” For voice and piano in line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM21930)

____ Poet’s Song. For high voice and piano in line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM28766)

____ The Promise of Living from “The Tender Land.” For SATBB chorus and 2 pianos in line by line format. Soprano and Bass 1 parts only. (BRM07077)

____ Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson. For voice and piano in line by line and bar over bar formats. (BRM28669)

Ives, Charles. Down East. F major version. For voice and piano in line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM29691)

____ Fourteen Songs. For voice and piano in line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM26423)

____ Nine Songs. For voice and piano in line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM25808)

____ Ten Songs. For voice and piano in line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM25795)

Vaughan Williams, Ralph. Let us Now Praise Famous Men. For unison chorus and piano in section by section and paragraph format. (BRM21207)

Yazbek, David. The Band’s Visit: A New Musical. A musical adaptation of the 2007 Israeli film of the same name and features music and lyrics by David Yazbek. This transcription is for voice and piano in single line and bar over bar format. (BRM38020)

Wind Instruments

Skornicka, Joseph E. Rubank Intermediate Method: Clarinet. Bar over bar format. (BRM23367)

Please note that all materials listed below are also available to borrow by mail, not only through BARD. Please contact the Music Section to borrow talking books on digital cartridge or to borrow hard copies of braille music. Call us at 1-800-424-8567, ext. 2, or e-mail us at nlsm@loc.gov. If you are new to BARD, you can find more information about signing up here: Sign up for BARD and Accessing BARD.

Choral

Vaughan Williams, Ralph. Fantasia on Christmas carols: for baritone solo, chorus (SATB) and orchestra. Line by line and bar over bar formats. (BRM29015)

Libretti

Bellini, Vincenzo. La sonnambula: libretto : opera in three acts. Italian words with translation in English contracted braille. (BRM26044)

Wagner, Richard. Das Rheingold: prologue to the operatic trilogy Der Ring des Nibelungen : opera in one act. German text with English translation in English contracted braille. (BRM18813)

Multiple Instruments

Piazzolla, Astor. A tribute to Piazzolla: Adios nonino. Single line and bar over bar format. (BRT38010)

Music Appreciation and History

Galieva-Szokolay, Julia. Celebrate theory: Level 9: harmony. Contains musical examples in line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM38000)

Music Appreciation and History ; Music Theory

Galieva-Szokolay, Julia. Celebrate theory: Level 10: harmony and counterpoint. Line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM38008)

Piano

Brahms, Johannes. Capriccio in G minor for the pianoforte: op. 116, no. 3. For piano in bar by bar format. (BRM02213)

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus. Sonata in C: for the pianoforte. For piano in bar by bar format. (BRM02466)

Rachmaninoff, Sergei. Prelude in D♭ major: no. 13 of 13 préludes: op. 32. For piano in section by section format. (BRM02531)

Piano Duets

Norton, Christopher. Microjazz piano duets: I: graded piano duets in popular styles. For one piano, four hands, in section by section format. (BRM34739)

Norton, Christopher. More microjazz piano duets: II: graded piano duets in popular styles. For one piano, four hands, in section by section format. (BRM34740)

Violin

Bach, Johann Sebastian. Air on the 4th string. For violin and piano in bar by bar format. (BRM02157)

Vocal

Fauré, Gabriel. Au bord de l’eau: high voice. For high voice and piano in line by line and bar over bar formats. (BRM22876)

Fauré, Gabriel. Chanson d’amour: opus 27, no. 1. For voice and piano in line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM22914)

Ravel, Maurice. Shéhérazade (Three poems): for voice and piano. Line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM28974)

In our braille collection, we’ve added a plethora of items including libretti, numerous organ and piano pieces, and a variety of vocal and choral works. Of note is the recent addition of Popular Music Lead Sheets, which contains songs by George Harrison, Ed Sheeran, and others! We’ve added several new lectures, concerts, and interviews from the Library of Congress Music Division to our Music Appreciation Talking Book collection. For jazz lovers, we have an interview with pianist and composer Guillermo Klein, and a panel discussion about Blue Note Records. For those who are interested in the concerts and conversations series, additions include events by the Ritz Chamber Players, Goldmund Quartet, and Jordi Savall.

Please note that all materials listed below are also available to borrow by mail, not only through BARD. Please contact the Music Section to borrow talking books on digital cartridge or to borrow hard copies of braille music. Call us at 1-800-424-8567, ext. 2, or e-mail us at nlsm@loc.gov.

If you are new to BARD, you can find more information about signing up here: Sign up for BARD and Accessing BARD.

Music Appreciation

Library of Congress Music Division

“A gift to be simple”: Japanese American influence in Appalachian Spring. (DBM04719)
Blue Note at 75. (DBM04716)
Concert and Conversation with the Ritz Chamber Players. (DBM04608)
Discussion: Daniels & Kellaway & the American Songbook. (DBM04717)
Goldmund Quartet: Concert and Conversation. (DBM04720)
The Interface Between Music Composition and Game Design. (DBM04713)
Japanese Influences in 20th Century American Music. (DBM04712)
Jazz Conversation: Argentine Pianist & Composer Guillermo Klein. (DBM04714)
Jordi Savall: Concert and Conversation. (DBM04721)
Renée Fleming and Daniel Levitin: Music is Medicine. (DBM04718)
Stephen Ackert: “Mein junges Leben hat ein End.” (DBM04715)

Braille Music

Accordion

Sedlon, J. H. Accordion Solos. For accordion in bar over bar format. (BRM36391)

Choral Music

Bach, Johann Sebastian. Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied: BWV 225: Chorpartitur. For double chorus in section by section format. (BRM35123)

Palestrina, Giovanni Pierluigi da. Missa Brevis: ad chorum quatuor vocum inaequalium : Cantus, A.T.B. For unaccompanied mixed chorus (cantus, alto, tenor, and bass voices) in paragraph format. (BRM26300)

Purcell, Henry. Sound the Trumpet. For two-part women’s chorus and piano in open score and bar over bar format. (BRM20347)

Tchaikovsky, Peter Illich. The Nightingale. For mixed chorus in paragraph format. (BRM04069)

Libretti

Barber, Samuel. Vanessa: Opera in Three Acts. English contracted braille. (BRM26011)

Beethoven, Ludwig van. Fidelio. Contains lyrics in German with translation in English contracted braille. Contains brief musical excerpts in line by line format. (BRM28944)

Bizet, Georges. Carmen: Opera in Four Acts. In French with translation in English contracted braille. (BRM24730)

Music Theory

Ottman, Robert W. Elementary Harmony. English contracted braille with musical examples in single line and bar over bar format. (BRM12484)

Organ

Bach, Johann Sebastian. We Do All in One God Believe = Wir Glauben all’ an einen Gott, BWV 740. For organ in bar by bar format. (BRM20368)

Franck, César. Prélude, Fugue et Variation: No. 3 of Six Pieces for the Organ: op. 18. For organ in bar by bar format. (BRM01677)

Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Felix. Prelude and Fugue in G: No. 2 of Three Preludes and Fugues for the Organ: op. 37. For organ in bar by bar format. (BRM02107)

Pärt, Arvo. Trivium für Orgel. For organ in section by section format. (BRT37142)

Piano

Beethoven, Ludwig van. Rondo, pour Piano, op. 51. For piano in section by section format. (BRM27998)

Brahms, Johannes. Tre Intermezzi: op. 117: per Pianoforte. For piano in section by section format. (BRM38005)
Valse: A Flat Major: op. 39, no. 15. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRM10233)

Couperin, François. Les Barricades Mystérieuses ; Le Carillon de Cythère. For piano or harpsichord in section by section format. (BRM28092)

Friml, Rudolf. Valse Lucille: op. 85, no. 1. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRM07053)

Granados, Enrique. Andaluza No. 5 of Danzas Españolas. For piano in bar by bar format. (BRM02033)

Grieg, Edvard. Holberg Suite: op. 40. For piano in bar by bar format. (BRM02038)

Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Felix. Dix-Sept Variations Sérieuses pour Piano: op. 54. For piano in paragraph format. (BRM38004)

Rachmaninoff, Sergei. Prelude in D: op. 23, no. 4. For piano in bar by bar format. (BRM02073)

Schumann, Robert. Slumber Song. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRM18267)
Carnaval Scènes Mignonnes: op. 9. For piano in bar by bar format. (BRM01575)

Soler, Antonio. Sonatas for Piano. Vol. 3. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRM26398)

Stravinsky, Igor. Sérénade in La = Serenade in A en Quatre Mouvements pour Piano. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRM32051)

Tchaikovksy, Peter Ilich. The Seasons, op. 37. For piano in bar by bar format. (BRM01698)

Tcherepnin, Alexander. Bagatelles, opus 5: 10 Pieces for Piano. For piano in bar over bar format. (BRM32151)

Piano Duets

Brahms, Johannes. Serenade Nr. 2 A-Dur, für Klavier zu vier Händen: Serenade no. 2 in A major, op. 16. For piano, four-hands in bar over bar format. (BRT38003)
Waltz: op. 39, no. 15. For 2 pianos, four hands, in bar over bar format. (BRM04828)

Popular Vocal

Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. Popular Music Lead Sheets. No. 139. In lead sheet format with melody, words, and chord symbols. For voice and chordal accompaniment. (BRM38006)

Miranda, Lin-Manuel. In the Heights: from “In the Heights.” For voice and piano with chord outline in line by line format. (BRT38007)

Violin

Dancla, Charles. Air Varies, op. 89. For violin and piano in single line and bar over bar format. (BRM00827)

Huber, Hans. Student’s Concerto, no. 4. For violin and piano in single line and bar over bar format. (BRM00850)

Mazas, F, (Féréol). Thirty Special Studies for Violin, op. 36: Book I. For violin in single line format. 1 volume. (BRM32093)

Schubert, Franz. Fantasia: Klavier und Violine, op. 159. For violin in section by section format. (BRM34155)

Seitz, Friedrich. Third Pupil’s Concerto: op. 12 in G minor. For violin in section by section format. (BRM00879)

Vocal

Boytim, Joan Frey, ed. The First Book of Soprano Solos, Part III. For high voice and piano in line by line and bar over bar formats. (BRM38002)

Cocchi, Luigi. 12 Canti di Grandi Autori con Accompagnemento di Pianoforte. For voice in paragraph format. (BRM26246)

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus. Sull’aria: Sweet Zephyr: [from] “Le nozze di Figaro.” Duet for two soprano voices and piano in section by section and bar over bar format.  (BRM04175)

Sieber, Ferdinand. Thirty-Six Eight-Measure Elementary Vocalises: op. 92. For voice in line by line and bar over bar format. (BRM32055)

Schubert, Franz. Wasserfluth = Stream of Tears: no. 6 of “Die Winterreise.” For voice and piano in bar by bar format. (BRM01565)
Danksagung an den Bach = Acknowledgment to the Brook: from “Die schöne Müllerin,” op. 25. For voice and piano in bar by bar format. (BRM01509)

You can download all the listed materials through BARD. To borrow cartridges or embossed braille music, please contact the Music Section for more information. You can call us at 1-800-424-8567, ext. 2, or e-mail us at nlsm@loc.gov, and we will be happy to assist you!

If you are new to BARD, you may find the following page helpful: Sign up for BARD and BARD Mobile.

Audio

Piano by Ear—Bill Brown

Morning Mood, op. 46, no. 1. “Morgenstemning” from Peer Gynt Suite by Edvard Grieg. Late intermediate lesson (DBM04709)

Prelude no. 2 in Cm, BWV 847 by J.S. Bach. Late intermediate lesson (DBM04710)

Prelude no. 3 in C sharp, BWV 848 by J.S. Bach. Late intermediate level (DBM04711)

Music Appreciation

American Folklife Center. Instrument of the State: A Century of Music in Louisiana’s Angola Prison (DBM04689)

___Múscraí Singing Tradition of County Cork, Ireland: Lecture (DBM04688)

Library of Congress Music Division. He Came, He Saw, He Concord: Technique and Texture in the Music of Ives and Ravel (DBM04691)

___Is That Natural?: Horn Trios of Brahms and Ligeti (DBM04690)

___Octets by Debussy, Loeffler and Schubert: Concert and Conversation (DBM04693)

___Les Violons du Roy: Concert and Conversation (DBM04692)

Braille Music

Music Theory

Ottman, Robert W. Advanced Harmony: Theory and Practice. English contracted braille with musical examples in single line and bar over bar formats (BRM24377)

Piano

Grieg, Edvard. Lyric Pieces, Book 5, op. 54. For piano in bar by bar format (BRM01275)

___Lyric Pieces, Book 6, nos. 1-3, op. 57. For piano in bar by bar format (BRM05516)

___Lyric Pieces, Book 6, nos. 4-6, op. 57. For piano in bar by bar format (BRM05515)

___Lyric Pieces, Book 8, nos. 1-3, op. 65. For piano in bar by bar format (BRM05514)

___Lyric Pieces, Book 9, op. 68. For piano in bar by bar format (BRM05518)

Rachmaninoff, Sergei. Prelude in G, no. 5 of 13 Préludes for the piano, op. 32. Bar by bar format (BRM01441)

Schumann, Robert. Arabeske, op. 18. For piano in bar by bar format (BRM01571)

Recorder

Famous Ballet Tunes, Book 1: For Solo Descant (Soprano) Recorder. Arranged by T. S. Walker. Single line format (BRM06428)

Famous Ballet Tunes, Book 2: For Solo Descant (Soprano) Recorder. Arranged by T. S. Walker. Single line format (BRM06430)

Fiske, Roger and Jack P. B. Dobbs. The Oxford School Music Books: Senior Book 1. For recorder in single line and bar over bar formats (BRM01589)

Lœillet, Jean Baptiste. Sonaten: für Blockflöte (Querflöte, Violine, Oboe) und Basso Continuo : Op. 1, [nr.] 1-3. For recorder, violin, or oboe; viola da gamba; and harpsichord or piano. Paragraph format (BRM25530)

Priestley, Edmund and Fred Fowler. The School Recorder Handbook: A Supplementary Edition to the School Recorder Books (I and II). Line by line and single line formats (BRM02759)

Vocal

Charles, Ray and David Olsen. Ray Charles: A Man and His Soul. Popular songs and jazz vocals as performed by Ray Charles. For voice and piano with chord symbols. Line by line and bar over bar formats (BRM38001)