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Now Streaming from the School of Music Recording Archives, October 2017

University of Iowa School of Music concert recordings are archived by the Rita Benton Music Library. The Library maintains a streaming audio digital collection of current performance recordings that is available to current University of Iowa faculty, students, and staff.
Patrons must have a valid HawkID and password to stream recordings.
Here are just a few highlights from concerts this October in the School of Music:

Olivier Latry, organ (guest artist recital)

You may have heard about this concert from just about everyone who attended. Olivier Latry, organist at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame and professor at the Paris Conservatory, delivers a masterful performance on the Concert Hall’s Klais organ. Of particular note is the 20+ minute improvisation on the Dies Irae and “In Heaven There Is No Beer.” Really, this actually happened and it was amazing.
Listen >


Oboe Music from Portugal: Courtney Miller, oboe; Minji Kwon, piano

Enjoy a mixture of old and new works from Portugal, including Os Contos do Oboé, op. 73 by Ricardo Matosinhos and composed for Iowa’s oboe professor Courtney Miller,  in this faculty recital featuring professors Conklin, Arnone, Wolfe, and Rutledge.
Listen >


vocalist stephen swansonGIRLS A-Z: A Hodgepodge of Songs: Stephen Swanson, voice; Alan Huckleberry, piano

This concert consists of 26 songs featuring the name of a woman, one for each letter of the alphabet. Broken into two long tracks (13 apiece), enjoy this recital that features many genres, styles, and languages, delivered magnificently by Iowa’s own superb interpreter of song literature, Stephen Swanson. Be sure to read the program notes by Marilyn Swanson for some background on how this curious program came to be and a detailed bibliography of all the songs.
Listen >

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Ensemble Performances in October

Chamber Orchestra >
Women’s Chorale & Camerata >
Symphony Orchestra >
University Choir and Kantorei >
Composer’s Workshop >
Concert Band and Symphony Band >

Getting Started at the Music Library: Fall 2017

Whether you’re new to campus or returning for another year, the Rita Benton Music Library is excited to welcome you!

Here are a handful of news, tips & tricks, and resources that can get your 2017 school year off to a great start.

Check it out, plug it in

little bits synth kit
Learn more about the Little Bits Synth Kit here >

The Music Library now has the following equipment available for circulation:

  • Audio Technica Headphones (quantity: 5)
  • Dell Optical Drives (for use with Mac or PC) (quantity: 2)
  • ZOOM H4N Digital Audio Recorders (quantity: 2)
  • Little Bits Synth Kits with MIDI bits and cables (quantity: 2)

All items are available for 2 hour checkout, in building use only.


Listen to School of Music Recordings Online

All School of Music faculty recitals and ensemble concerts are now available to stream online in the Iowa Digital Library from 2003-present. Access is limited to University personnel with a valid HawkID and password. Additional recordings will become available, as the Library will continue its efforts to preserve and digitize recordings pre-2003. Thanks to former Library Assistant Megan Small for her hard work on this project.

Listen now


Meet our new staff member, Christine Burke

​Christine Burke joined the staff of the Rita Benton Music Library as Library Assistant III on Friday, June 16.  She is responsible for course reserves, digital projects, supervising the library in the evenings, and some collections processing.

Christine recently graduated with a Master of Music Degree (Composition) from the University of Iowa, with additional studies in clarinet and organ. Recently, her music has been performed by the Chicago Civic Orchestra, JACK Quartet, UNK New Music Ensemble, and at various festivals and conferences throughout the country, with upcoming performances by the Talea Ensemble (Time Spans Festival 2017/Earle Brown Music Foundation’s International Summer Academy), The Living Earth Show, and Kamratōn Ensemble. ​


Take a look at some 2016 stats and highlights

See how many pages were scanned, items were circulated, and learn the top reasons patrons visit the Music Library.

https://www.canva.com/design/DACVmFkRIw0/view

First Folio and Noon Tunes

The First Folio @ Iowa

The University of Iowa Libraries will play host to a copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio August 29-September 25. The Folio and Banner for the Shakespeare at Iowa Exhibitionaccompanying exhibit, featuring items from the Folger Library and University of Iowa Special Collections, will be housed in the Libraries’ Gallery (located on the first floor near the north entrance).

The Grand Opening event will take place on August 29th at 10am in the North Lobby of the Main Library.

Noon Tunes

A series of noontime recitals will take place throughout the month of September featuring music from the era of Shakespeare or compositions inspired by the Bard.

  • Chamber Singers of Iowa City on September 14th, 12:10pm-12:45pm
  • Students from the School of Music Voice Studios on September 21st and 28th, 12:10pm-12:45pm

Come hear some great music and while viewing this cultural treasure!

Berlin Philharmonic Digital Concert Hall now available

Berlin Philharmonic Digital Concert Hall icon

The Berliner Philharmoniker’s Digital Concert Hall video streams classical music concerts, current and historic, to your PC. The mobile app is not included in our subscription.

This resource features the orchestra under the baton of famed conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Claudio Abbado, and Herbert Karajan and also includes interviews with conductors & soloists and program notes.

The first time you use Digital Concert Hall you must register, then log in to subsequent sessions. Only five users can be logged in simultaneously, so please log out of the DCH after you are done using it.

Please send additional comments or questions to Katie Buehner.

We’re Moving!

The Rita Bpackedenton Music Library will be moving from its temporary location on the second floor of the Main Library to its new home in the Voxman Music Building starting July 25th, 2016.

This does mean that the collection will be unavailable or be subject to limited availability at various points during the move.
Here are some important dates to keep in mind:

Moving Schedule

  • Saturday, July 23: This is the last day the collection will be available prior to the move.
  • Monday, July 25: The Music Library move begins. Collections are unavailable to all patrons.
  • Friday, August 5: The Music Library move is complete.
  • Monday August 8: Collections are ONLY accessible by faculty and staff with access to the Voxman Music Building. Student and public patrons will NOT have access to the collection at this time.
  • Monday August 22: The Voxman Music Building opens. The Rita Benton Music Library collections are accessible by all patrons.

If you need scores, recordings, and other music materials during the month of limited access, please use Interlibrary Loan or UBorrow to request items from other libraries. Make sure your delivery location remains the Main Library until the move is completed.

The Music Library appreciates your patience during this time. Please come visit us in our new space on the first floor of the Voxman Music Building at the start of the semester!

To receive additional updates on what’s happening at the Rita Benton Music Library, subscribe to this blog feed.