How does a composer approach writing a piece for five instruments that are so different in sound production that creating a perfectly blended sound is almost an impossible task? This week focuses on that most unusual among the standard chamber groups: the woodwind quintet.

People Get Ready has been honing its unique mix of music and modern dance since its inception in 2009. The group's eponymous debut album was released late last year and the band recently performed at Brooklyn Academy of Music's Crossing Brooklyn Ferry. Hear their Mixtape today at 3 pm.

As we approach the 100th anniversary of The Rite of Spring’s premiere, I’ve been thinking about what a time it was, how, as the world teetered on the brink of political and military disaster, revolutionary change was imminent in all the arts.

With all the richness, and pianistic splendor of last week behind us, the only suitable response involves music of clarity and sparseness. This week on the program we're balancing Aimard's high note-per-second repertoire with meditative, slow-moving, and delicate repertoire in conjunction with our Spring Fund Drive.

This week, we hear the world premiere recording of Magnus Lindberg's Piano Concerto No. 2, as delivered by the New York Philharmonic. We also sample Lee Hyla's new album "My Life on the Plains" and hear from our album of the week, featuring previously unrecorded music by Ann Southam.

Hosted by Q2 Music regular Nadia Sirota, this final concert of the 2013 Look & Listen Festival boasts the talents of Claire Chase, Svet Stoyanov, Phyllis Chen, Cuddle Magic, Sybarite5, and the Momenta Quartet.

Tonight, composer Suzanne Farrin curates the second concert of the 2013 Look & Listen Festival, live from the Pratt Manhattan Gallery. The evening includes performances by harpist Bridget Kibbey and oboist James Austin Smith.

On May 17, the 2013 Look & Listen Festival kicks off with performances by the JACK Quartet, the cello-piano duo of Nick Canellakis and Michael Brown, and the a cappella group The M6. WQXR's Terrance McKnight hosts.

What is the blingiest thing going on in new music? This week, The Brothers take an opportunity to look at some of the most glittering, exciting, unusual, and outright blinged-out music on the market. Listen Thursday at 3 pm.

On May 16 at Miller Theatre, the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) and Third Coast Percussion present the music of Mexico City-born composer Julio Estrada, including the premiere of a new commission.

Grammy-winning ensemble Eighth Blackbird keeps a busy concert schedule, including premieres from Aaron Jay Kernis, Bryce Dessner and Steve Mackey in 2013 alone. Listen to their "free-for-all" Mixtape.

On May 14, Q2 Music and NPR Music presented a live video webcast previewing the American debut of composer Nico Muhly's opera Two Boys. The evening also included performances by songwriter Sam Amidon, violist Nadia Sirota and violinists Angela and Jennifer Chun. Watch the whole show.

Few pianists have impacted contemporary music more profoundly than the Frenchman Pierre-Laurent Aimard. Hear his insights and performances of Ives, Ligeti and Messiaen all week on Hammered!