October is National Arts and Humanities month — a celebration nearly 30 years running sponsored by Americans for the Arts. Sadly, COVIDtide hampers how I might normally celebrate this month: a visit to the Hilbert Circle Theatre to delight in the sounds of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (whose entire classical season, which was set to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, has been cancelled) or a play at our very own Vanity Theatre or a simulcast production from the Metropolitan Opera in New York from the comfort of Lafayette’s Eastside 10.
I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that opportunities to delight your eyes still abound locally and otherwise. The Athens Art Gallery has regular hours, and Newfields (the erstwhile Indianapolis Museum of Art) has also opened its doors again.
But happily, while many stages are dark and concert halls silent throughout much of the state and nation, your library is here to help you enjoy the fruits of humanity’s aurally artistic endeavors.
Our DVD collection contains recordings of some of the finest performances across many different genres. Consider taking in an opera. The library has recordings and film adaptations of Bizet’s Carmen (DVD 782.1 Car), Verdi’s Aida (DVD 782.1 Aid), Mozart’s The Magic Flute (DVD 782.1 Mag), and one of my personal favorites, Don Giovanni (DVD 782.1 Don) about a philandering nobleman who, when offered the chance to repent of his rakish ways, (spoiler alert) remains intransigent and is dragged down to Hell by by a cadre of demons. It is widely regarded as Mozart’s finest opera and a masterpiece in the genre.
Maybe classical music isn’t something to which you’ve had much exposure. The library can also give you the tools to understand musical traditions with which you might be unfamiliar. Check out our Great Courses offerings How to Listen to and Understand Great Music (DVD 780.9 How) or Understanding the Fundamentals of Music (DVD 781.1 Gre).
Fully acknowledging that opera isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, perhaps you’d be interested in a concert. We have offerings ranging from classical with Handel’s Messiah (DVD 782.23 Han) to modern musical theater with Les Miserables (DVD 782.1 Les) to some contemporary(ish) music with Eagles Farewell Tour (DVD 781.66 Eag). We’re also bolstering our ballet collection — so consider snapping up The Nutcracker as we pirouette towards winter.
To close, let’s not forget that the library has resources to help you produce music (and other art) as well. We have scads of sheet music. Whether you’re a vocalist (782) or strum the guitar (787.87) or tickle the ivories (786.2), come and check out shelves and shelves and shelves dedicated to helping you create music now in this artistic Lent of COVIDtide and into the future when we’ll (communally) delight in humanity’s artistry once again.
Questions or comments? You may contact us at ref@cdpl.lib.in.us or call us at 765-362-2242. We are here to assist you in finding the best materials in our collection to educate and delight our patrons.
Paul Utterback is a reference and local history library assistant at the Crawfordsville District Public Library.
