Basic Computer Skills class

On Tuesday, April 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the Terrazas Branch, the America's Music series continues with "Rock." We will be viewing all of "Plugging In," from The History of Rock 'n' Roll. The film first focuses on Bob Dylan, looking at the way he merged expansive, poetic lyrics with the driving beat and electronic instruments of rock music. Dylan went from being one of the leaders of the folk music revival to redefining the lyrical possibilities of rock songs.  As the decade went on, albums like "Pet Sounds" by the Beach Boys showed a continuing refinement of the genre. By playing songs from albums instead of hit singles, FM radio stations helped change the way listeners experienced the music. The film concludes with a look at how musicians like Jimi Hendrix and bands like The Who expanded live musical performances into something also very visual and theatrical.

Click here to learn more about the upcoming program and related media. We also have a display of related books, CDs, and DVDs at the Terrazas Branch. I have also included a couple of suggested resources below, which can be found at Austin Public Library.

America’s Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway is a project of the Tribeca Film Institute in collaboration with the American Library Association, Tribeca Flashpoint, and the Society for American Music. America’s Music has been made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.”

The America's Music series of music documentaries and discussion continues at the Terrazas Branch on Tuesday, April 16 at 6:30 p.m. with "Broadway and Tin Pan Alley." We'll be watching Episode Two; "Syncopated City" of the documentary film "Broadway: The American Musical." If you are a fan of the Jazz Age and the music it produced, you won't want to miss this film. Broadway in the 1920s reached new heights in popularity. Al Jolson attracted huge crowds. Musicals written by two legendary songwriting teams: George and Ira Gershwin, and, Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart, filled theaters night after night. However, by the decade's end, the Great Depression and the rise of "talkies," motion pictures with sound, contributed to a rapid decline in the fortunes of Broadway producers and performers. Dr. Caroline O'Meara will introduce the film and lead us through a discussion of the issues raised by it.  For more information about this part of the America's Music series, including lists of related films, music recordings, books and web sites, click here.

America’s Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway is a project of the Tribeca Film Institute in collaboration with the American Library Association, Tribeca Flashpoint, and the Society for American Music. America’s Music has been made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.”