Topic: Chamber Music

Classics in technicolor

The piano and the musician: A blogger's musings on the instrument she loves

The piano is one of the most intimidating instruments in all its glory, intimidating to play, to study, to compose for, and to buy. It's also one of the most satisfying for this one musician.

Top picks: TV series 'Slings and Arrows' on DVD, Charles Schulz's 'The Peanuts Collection,' Rock Band 3, and more

Award-winning Canadian TV series 'Slings and Arrows' on DVD, 'The Peanuts Collection: Treasures from the World's Most Beloved Comic' by Charles Schulz and Nat Gertler, Rock Band 3 with new features, and more recommendations.

Top Picks: Esperanza Spalding's newest CD, Ken Burns's unseen films, 'City Island' out on DVD, and more recommendations

Esperanza Spalding's new album, 'Chamber Music Society,' three unseen Ken Burns documentaries on pbs.org, adult drama 'City Island' on DVD, and more.

Six Picks: Recommendations from the Monitor staff

'Eco Chic' book for the green traveler, Nicholas Kristof's reporting chutzpah on HBO, dulcet harmonies on the Real Vocal String Quartet's debut CD, and more.

A melodic conversation in Vietnam

Playing music together overcame the language barriers.

Six picks: recommendations from the Monitor staff

A crab-boat saga, Marvin Gaye on PBS, a LEGO-building website, and more.