The Bettendorf, Davenport, Moline, and Rock Island Public Libraries have been awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities grant to present the program America's Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway. As one of 50 grant recipients nationwide, these four libraries will feature public programs focusing on 20th century music genres that are uniquely American and how they are ingrained in our nation's history and culture.
Scheduled for Spring 2013, America's Music will consist of a six-week scholar-led viewing and discussion program. Among several renowned documentaries and television series included in the program are Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues, Broadway: the American Musical, Ken Burns' Jazz, High Lonesome: The Story of Bluegrass Music, The History of Rock 'n' Roll, and Latin Music, USA.
Musical performances and other programming focused on America's musical history will be provided in partnership with River Music Experience, Western Illinois University-Quad Cities, and WQPT. Dan Malachuk, Associate Professor of English at Western Illinois University-Quad Cities, will serve as lead project scholar for the viewing and discussion series.
America's Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway, was created by the Tribeca Film Institute with support from the National Endowment from the Humanities (NEH), and in consultation with the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office and the Society for American Music.
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