Tagged Music
What's Your New Year's Resolution for 2023?
We're about to embark on a new year, and even if you're not a New Year's Resolution person, you might view this time of year - and the turning of the calendar - as a chance to evaluate goals for the next 12…
Enjoy Philly Celebrates Jazz Month at the Free Library!
Spring symbolizes resurrection. The awakening from Winter into new birth, new spirit, new possibilities. During April 2022 - Jazz Appreciation Month , Philadelphia Jazz Project in collaboration with the Free Library of…
The Free Library and You: New Year’s Resolutions in 2022!
Can you believe we’re about to turn the page on another (long, strange, COVID-19 filled...) year? I know I can't! While I've never really been a big New Year's Resolution person, I do appreciate how the…
Celebrating Five Years of the Musical Instrument Collection at the Free Library
The Free Library’s Musical Instrument Collection is now as old as the number of lines on a musical staff—on September 25, 2021, the MIC turned 5! It was an ominous trek leading up to this milestone. That goes for other…
Nourishing Literacy | Veggie Rap!
If you like sweet beets, nourish your literacy with extra flavor and spice! Brocc out with the Veggie Rap! It's a jam, and it might even make you feel butter. Lime for lime you can farro along. Phyllo ears with some grape…
What Do You Know About Bollywood? | International Bollywood Day
September 24 is International Bollywood Day! So... what exactly is Bollywood? Depending on who you ask, each person defines it differently. In the film My Name Is Khan , an Indian man embarks on a remarkable journey across America…
September is National Classical Music Month
September is National Classical Music Month and I wanted to highlight a classical music icon who has some major local ties to Philadelphia— George Walker . George Walker (who passed away in 2018) was born in Washington, D.C. in…
Oklahoma: The Show That Changed American Musicals Forever
If ever a Broadway musical seemed destined to fail, it was Oklahoma . Contrary to the standard practice at the time, the producers insisted on casting singers who could act, rather than actors who could sing. As a result, the show…
Celebrate #BeyDay the Beyoncé Way
September 4 is #BeyDay , the birthday celebration of our favorite Queen of the music industry— Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter . This inspiring, outspoken, and sometimes shy Virgo is celebrating her 39th birthday this year.…
Best Summer Albums Through the Decades
Whether it is eating ice cream, swimming, or visiting your neighborhood library, there are so many great summer pastimes. One of the most exciting parts of summer is listening to all the incredible music! As we approach the end of…
Celebrating Pakistan's Independence Day with Music, Film, and Literature!
Jashn-e-Azadi Mubarak! Happy Independence Day! This past Saturday, August 14, was Pakistan’s Independence Day. Formed in 1947, Pakistan celebrated 74 years of its independence and freedom from British colonialism and the formation…
Philly Jazz Legends: Lee Morgan
This is the seventh in a series of posts highlighting major figures in jazz history who were from Philly (even if most ended up in New York City). A virtual book discussion of Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American…
Memories of the Golden Age of Hip Hop
I bomb atomically, Socrates’ philosophies and hypotheses Can’t define how I be dropping these mockeries Lyrically perform armed robbery - "Triumph (feat. Cappadonna)" by Wu-Tang Clan, 1997 I am a rap fan.…
Philly Jazz Legends: The Heath Brothers
This is the seventh in a series of posts highlighting major figures in Philadelphia jazz history. Every one of the bolded album titles below can be streamed free with your library card via Alexander Street’s Jazz Music…
Celebrate the South Indian Holiday of Pongal!
The South Indian holiday of Pongal is a multi-day harvest festival full of music and food observed by the Tamil and Telugu community, celebrated this year per the Hindu religious calendar, starting on Thursday, January 14 and ending on…
Philly Jazz Legends: Henry Grimes
This is the sixth in a series of posts highlighting major figures in jazz history who were in some sense from Philly. Every one of the bolded album titles below can be streamed free with your library card via Alexander Street’s…
Listen to the Virtual Concert Band and Discover an Online Music Community
Two months into the pandemic, everyone is looking at their computer screen and seeing at least 10 or more people on it. Imagine if you had to look at more than 50 or 100 people on the screen... When the pandemic began earlier this year,…
Meet Your Library Staff: Sunita Balija, Children's Librarian and South Indian Classical Vocalist
As part of our ongoing series of blog posts highlighting our awesome staff throughout the Free Library of Philadelphia, today we take some time to speak with Sunita Balija, who is a Children's Librarian at Donatucci…
Philly Jazz Legends: Archie Shepp
This is the fifth in a series of posts highlighting major figures in jazz history who were in some sense from Philly. Every one of the bolded album titles below can be streamed for free with your library card via Alexander…
Halloween 2020: I Want Candy!
Howllo Boils and Ghouls!, Welcome back to the Free Library of Phrightadelphia's boo-log, on this most haunted of holidays— Halloween ! Usually, during this time of year, we'd be discussing and dissecting all-things…
Bringing Books to Life with Music
Musicopia: Bucket Drumming. Explore one of the most intuitive forms of music making: percussion! Spanning genres including jazz, Caribbean, traditional classical, and current pop, this highly interactive drummer Leon Jordan…
Story Drumming
Children and families are invited to join Julius Rivera of Philly Talking Drums for a story readaloud and syllabic drumming circle.
A Musical Celebration of Queer Kids, Families, and Allies
Ants on a Log plays music for children and other childlike people. Their award-winning music centers positivity, social justice, and silliness. Full of humor and harmony, Ants shows are energetic, interactive, and engaging for both…
The Pocket Joys
Bring the whole family for a musical performance by The Pocket Joys, a kid-friendly Philly based indie-folk musical duo, perfoming "Cozy Songs and Snacks".
Musicopia: Bucket Drumming
Musicopia: Bucket Drumming. Explore one of the most intuitive forms of music making: percussion! Spanning genres including jazz, Caribbean, traditional classical, and current pop, this highly interactive drummer Leon Jordan…
Sistahs Laying Down Hands Collective
What do you get when you incorporate vocals, dance, poetry,and storytelling along with the heartbeat of all instruments, the Djembe? A room full of joy! Enjoy a live performance led by local percussionist Karen Smith &…
Brazilian Adventure
Classic Brazilian music, such as Bossa Nova, Samba, and Jazz, for families.
Recycled Sounds Assembly
This performance and workshop, by renowned percussionist Dendê Macêdo, uses instruments he made from found materials to deliver a message about protecting our environment through reuse and recycling. Best for children…
Bossa Nova Classics and Originals
Classic Brazilian music, such as Bossa Nova, Samba, and Jazz, for adults and families.
Jazz
Listen to a live quartet play some of the most important works by Philadelphia Jazz artists from the 1930s to the present. Performance will include discussion of the artists and pieces presented.
Opera in a Box
Join Opera Philadelphia for their "Opera in a Box" program for children. Costumes, props, and songs, OH MY! Children work with a teaching artist to create a short opera scene that explores the different parts of an…
Ants on a Log Music Program
Socially conscious music for children and other childlike people. All ages family program. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Ants on a Log Music Program
Philly's favorite folksy duo, Ants on a Log, performs music for children and other childlike people, songfully advocating for positivity, social justice, and silliness! Join us for a concert at 3:30 on May 10, with a special guest:…
Songwriting 101 - For Teens
Music is a vehicle for expression, and lyrics are a powerful way to convey a story. Participants will join Liz Filios, a Teaching Artist with Opera Philadelphia, as they explore songwriting through the ages and write a song…
May the 4th Concert with the Stanton Elementary Orchestra
Neighbors and families are invited to join us outside in the library garden for an evening of music performed by the Stanton Elementary Orchestra. Bring a blanket or a folding chair!
Song Writers Program: Young Singers Workshop with Mr. Ali
Feel inspired and create a song with the musical talent of Mr. Ali. Kids of all ages are welcome!
Jazz Appreciation Month Concert: The Renaissance Sextet
The Renaissance Sextet, led by Leon Jordan Sr. will be celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month by featuring the music of our local jazz luminaries such as Jaco Pastorius, John Blake Jr. and even our own Andrew Neu and Dave Posmontier! This…
Jazz Appreciation Month Concert With The Robin Clabby Sextet
The Robin Clabby Sextet is an original funk and soul jazz ensemble performing original music off of Robin's album "Revolve" as well as a few classics by artists like Grover Washington, Jr. and Sammy Smith. Robin…
Miles On My Mind
Join us for a special performance celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month featuring Leon Jordan Jr.
Jazz History & Jazz Performance
Listen to musician Jerry Tanenbaum and his jazz band as they perform beautiful examples of jazz thru the ages, with some explanation of why and how the styles evolved.
Smithsonian Global Sound for Libraries
With an extraordinary array of more than 35,000 individual tracks of streaming music, spoken word, and natural and human-made sounds, users can listen to performances by American folk icons such as Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Pete Seeger…
Popular Music Library
Popluar Music Library contains a wide range of popular music from around the world, including hundreds of thousands of tracks from major genres in pop music, including alternative, country, Christian, electronic, hip-hop, metal, punk,…
LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com)
Learn business, creative, and technology skills to achieve your personal and professional goals.
Jazz Music Library
This resource will be the largest and most comprehensive collection of jazz available online. This release includes 4,933 albums and 59,860 tracks. It and is growing regularly.
Gale in Context | Elementary (formerly Kids InfoBits) *
Elementary students in kindergarten through grade five will find age-appropriate content covering a broad range of educational topics such as animals, arts, geography, health, literature, people, social studies, technology, etc. Kids…
Gale eBooks (formerly Gale Virtual Reference Library)
Explore over 500 nonfiction, fully searchable reference titles. Access accurate information on science, literature, history, business, and more.
Contemporary World Music
Reggae, worldbeat, neo-traditional, world fusion, Balkanic jazz, African film, Bollywood, Arab swing and jazz, and other genres such as traditional music - Indian classical, fado, flamenco, klezmer, zydeco, gospel, gagaku, and more.
Classical Music Library
A comprehensive database of distinguished classical recordings offered in streaming format. The Classical Music Library also includes anthology playlists linked to the major music history and appreciation textbooks
Guthrie P. Ramsey, Jr. | Who Hears Here: On Black Music, Pasts, & Present
In conversation with Marc Lamont Hill Professor emeritus of Music at the University of Pennsylvania, Guthrie P. Ramsey, Jr. is a celebrated musicologist, composer, pianist, and music historian. He is the author of Race Music: Black…
Aidan Levy | Saxophone Colossus: The Life and Music of Sonny Rollins
In conversation with Nate Chinen The author of Dirty Blvd.: The Life and Music of Lou Reed and editor of Patti Smith on Patti Smith: Interviews and Encounters , Aiden Levy played the baritone saxophone in the Stan Rubin…
Patti Smith | A Book of Days
A couple of songs and stories from a memorable evening with Patti Smith and Tony Shanahan--and a great audience--at the library.
Ross Gay | Inciting Joy: Essays with Major Jackson | A Beat Beyond: Selected Prose of Major Jackson
Ross Gay is the author of The Book of Delights , a life-affirming collection of short lyric essays that reminds readers to appreciate so-called ordinary wonders, even during turbulent times. His several volumes of poetry include Catalog…
Jann Wenner | Like a Rolling Stone: A Memoir
In conversation with David Fricke, senior editor for Rolling Stone and SiriusXM host The co-founder, co-editor, and publisher of Rolling Stone , Jann Wenner has influenced the ways in which the world perceives music, politics, and pop…
Margo Jefferson | Constructing A Nervous System: A Memoir
In conversation with Tamala Edwards, anchor, 6ABC Action News morning edition “A national treasure” ( Vanity Fair ), Margo Jefferson won the National Book Critics Circle Award for her memoir Negroland , an examination of her upbringing…
One Book, One Philadelphia 2022 Kickoff Celebration
To launch the 20th annual program season of One Book, One Philadelphia, join us for a conversation with Quiara Alegría Hudes, author of My Broken Language--the 2022 One Book featured title--and Lilliam Rivera, author of Never Look Back,…
Jennifer Lin | Beethoven in Beijing: Stories from the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Historic Journey to China
In conversation with Nydia Han, Consumer Investigative Reporter and co-anchor of 6ABC Action News Sunday mornings A reporter at The Philadelphia Inquirer for 31 years, Jennifer Lin worked as an international correspondent in China, a…
Jeremy Denk | Every Good Boy Does Fine: A Love Story, in Music Lessons
In conversation with Peter Dobrin, classical music critic and culture writer, The Philadelphia Inquirer One of classical music’s most celebrated pianists, Jeremy Denk has performed with ensembles such as the National Symphony…
Garrett Hongo | The Perfect Sound: A Memoir in Stereo
In conversation with Major Jackson Garrett Hongo was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for the poetry collection The River of Heaven . His other books of poetry include Yellow Light and Coral Road . The distinguished professor in the…
Brendan Slocumb | The Violin Conspiracy
In conversation with Stanford Thompson, founder and executive director of Play On Philly A public and private school music educator for more than 20 years, Brendan Slocumb has performed on violin with the Washington Metropolitan…
Robby Krieger: | Set the Night on Fire: Living, Dying, and Playing Guitar With the Doors
In conversation with David Fricke, senior editor for Rolling Stone and SiriusXM host One of Rolling Stone ’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”, Robby Krieger is best known as a member of the legendary rock band The Doors. He wrote…
Jackie Kay | Bessie Smith: A Poet’s Biography of a Blues Legend
In conversation with Sapphire The National Poet Laureate of Scotland from 2016 to 2021, Jackie Kay is the author of the celebrated poetry collections Life Mask , Off Colour , and The Adoption Papers , winner of the Scottish Arts…
James Lapine | Putting It Together: How Stephen Sondheim and I Created “Sunday in the Park with George”
In conversation with Benj Pasek, Tony Award-winning songwriter and New York Times bestselling author of Dear Evan Hansen A celebrated director, playwright, screenwriter, and librettist, James Lapine earned three Tony Awards for “Best…
Bobby Rush | I Ain’t Studdin’ Ya: My American Blues Story
In conversation with Jonny Meister, host of The Blues Show on WXPN In his five decades in blues music, Grammy-winner Bobby Rush has recorded hundreds of his own songs, collaborated with the likes of Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters, and…
Rickie Lee Jones | Last Chance Texaco: Chronicles of an American Troubadour
Carole Phillips Memorial Lecture In conversation with singer, songwriter, and novelist Wesley Stace Acclaimed for “her hauntingly beautiful voice and fearless experimentation” (NPR), singer–-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones has remained one…
Richard Thompson | Beeswing: Losing My Way and Finding My Voice 1967-1975
NOTE: SIGNED BOOKS ARE NOW SOLD OUT. ALL TICKETS BOUGHT AFTER 5:50 P.M (EST) ON EVENT DAY ARE FOR ENTRY WITH AN UNSIGNED BOOK INCLUDED. PURCHASE TICKETS In conversation with musician, novelist, and teacher Wesley Stace “One of rock’s…
Victor Wooten | The Spirit of Music: The Lesson Continues
In conversation with novelist and musician Wesley Stace A founding member of jazz fusion super group Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, bass guitarist Victor Wooten is a five-time Grammy winner and has been called “the Michael Jordan of the…
Alex Ross | Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music
In conversation with Simon Callow Music critic for the New Yorker since 1996, Alex Ross is the author of the international bestseller The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century . A trip down the rabbit hole of modern…
Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons and Justine Simmons | Old School Love: And Why it Works
Walk this way for an evening with Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons, frontman for the mega-influential hip-hop trio Run-DMC. Regarded as the driving force behind ushering rap into the mainstream, the group was awarded a Grammy Lifetime…