A look into one of humanity’s most expressive instruments.

“…laugh about it, shout about it but when you’ve got to choose, every way you look at it you lose.”

Music of the Master, the Maestro, the Mystic from Montreal.

Interpretations! (Above, Karrin Allyson)

Music of a wide-ranging nature for wide-ranging sensibilities.

La di da di la di dum, ’tis autumn

Shigeru Umebayashi, Kremerata Baltica, the Big O, and Hurricane Helene.

Music of Brazil and Mexico with brief sketches of Salli Terri, Laurindo Almeida and Chavela Vargas (above).

A review of Nina Simone’s first recording, 14 tracks on Bethlehem Records, that made it clear, A Big New Talent Has Come to Town.

A sampling of music for film and theater by the Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson.

Kathleen Turner performs Ariel Dorfman’s arresting poem Correspondence that will both chill and warm you. And in honor of their magnificent collaboration, a sampling of tangos.

A brief over view of La Traviata, and a teaser of Johann Johannsson and Ólafur Arnalds (above).

Upping the cellular voltage.

Songs and lore in celebration of this month’s blue moon.

Joni Mitchell’s sine qua non, Hejira, with notes to parse out a fuller picture of a magnificent work of art.

Music for the fullness of summer.

A scant 58-minute review of the vast career of violinist Gidon Kremer, a door to contemporary composers far and wide.

New music by Pat Metheny, selections by Julian Lage, Jude, Laibach, Amy Winehouse. and a reading of “All the World’s a Stage” by the late Jeffery Dench (above).

A sampling of pieces by film composer Shigeru Umebayashi (above) and other like-minded individuals.

Songs, ballads and poetry from Ovid to Tom Waits that tell stories for the long hot summer days and nights of July.